India’s Ravi Shastri and former England captain-turned commentator Nasser Hussain are at crossroads this time and the verbal war is now in-front of millions of viewers following the Npower Test series on ESPN STAR CRICKET. The issue started with Nasser Hussain calling the refusal of DRS by cricket Boards “a disgrace.” Hussain’s reaction came after India’s Harbhajan Singh was given LBW by stand in umpire on day two of the on-going Trent Bridge Test in Nottingham.
Television replay clearly showed a big inside edge but Harbhajan had to go as the BCCI had refused the use of Decision Review System for lbw referrals. However, Hussain’s comment did not go down well with Shastri. “They (England) are jealous about the way the IPL is going, they are jealous about where India is in World Cricket, they are jealous about the fact that India are world champions, they are jealous because of the too much money being made by BCCI, bottom-line is that they have never been bloody number 1 in the world in Test cricket, ” Shastri said while replying to a question from Harsha Bhogle on STAR CRICKET.
The issue did not end on day two as Nasser Hussain said: “Ravi I just want to pick you up on something you said on a show yesterday, questioning my right to call non-use of DRS a disgrace. Well, I’ve earned that right after 96 Test matches to voice my opinion on the game of cricket. I’m sure that’s what ESPN has asked me to do.” Shastri’s reply: “You said, disgrace India not taking it. Now that’s the case, India has got every right to decide whether to take it or not. Reason why India decided not to take it is that they don’t think it is 100% fool proof.”