The Pant Controversy: Asif says it’s “England’s fault”

Former Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif believes that Rishabh Pant wasn’t tested sufficiently on the first day of the Edgbaston Test between India and England which prompted the wicket-keeper’s century.

Pant played a typical counter-going knock of 146 off only 111 balls, saving India from a terrifying state of 98/5. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja, he stitched 222 runs for the sixth wicket, reversing the situation in the visitor’s favour.

Asif said that Ben Stokes and co. didn’t have the right plan and settled on some wrong decisions when Pant was attacking. He likewise talked about the technical issues in Virat Kohli’s batting, which bit the former captain hard in the Edgbaston Test.

“I pointed out Kohli’s technical fault a couple of years ago but people started calling me out. See today (Friday), he hasn’t scored a century for a long time now. I love watching Kohli and even he is a bigger player than me. But technically, he needs to work harder,”

Asif opined.

Apparently, Mohammad Asif is not convinced of Pant’s achievements-

Rishabh Pant’s dominating innings against England on the very beginning of the continuous Test at Edgbaston earned him numerous praises  from around the world. In any case, the former cricketer, Mohammad Asif wasn’t left as dazzled with the knock. In a trademark twitter video of his, the Pakistani pacer put the fault of the big score on England and their bumbling bowling tactics. 

Also Read: India’s ground-breaking form in match & Rohit’s recovery!

Pant came in at a troublesome phase of the game, with India reeling at 98/5. He took the game to the opposition right away, before benefiting from England’s choice to bring Jack Leach into the attack. The wicketkeeper batsman in a furious onslaught hit the spinner for three sixes and eight boundaries, completely turning the tables.

Asif on Rishabh Pant- 

“It was totally England’s bowlers’ fault as Pant did no wonders. He [Pant] has technical faults. His left hand doesn’t work but still, he managed to score a century because English bowlers didn’t bowl to him in his weak areas. I will not name individuals but England made a lot of mistakes. When Jadeja and Pant were batting, they brought in a left-arm spinner who wasn’t an ideal option to bowl at that moment. With such decisions by the opposition, you get an edge to score big” 

Asif said in a Twitter video.

This isn’t the first time Asif had a questionable opinion in regards to an Indian player. Two years back, he had commented that Kohli was a bottom handed player, guaranteeing the previous captain’s downfall will come soon enough as his health wanes. 

Kohli has now not scored a century in over two and half years. He was again caught short-handed against England, making Asif double down on his past statement.

Mohammed Asif’s opinion on Rishabh Pant goes against a majority belief of Pant’s talent. It is still yet to be seen how Rishabh Pant responds to Mohammed Asif’s claims.

– Muhammad Asif about the India batsmen, Kohli & Pant! pic.twitter.com/1gC3Akfanm

— Asif Khan (@mak_asif) July 2, 2022