Younis Khan states the obvious

Pakistan captain Younis Khan has blamed the Australians for unnecessarily creating issues while playing against India and Pakistan after teammate Saeed Ajmal was reported for his bowling action during the second ODI in Dubai on April 24 which he had suggested resulted from a complaint by Australian all-rounder Shane Watson to the umpires.

Younis said controversies reared up whenever Australia play sub-continental sides and wondered what was wrong in Ajmal bowling a 'doosra', which seemingly raised the ire of the rather precious Aussies.

Younis said "This is always happening with India and Pakistan and Australia, Why do we create all the time controversies? Why? It's a fair game, you know," he mused. Younis stressed it was simply a matter of Ajmal bowling a quicker ball, and not cheating. "You're talking about the doosra, 'Why he bowl doosra?' "Why (shouldn't Ajmal) bowl doosra? Because this is an art and especially Pakistanis and Indians they have the art, so why (should it) not be allowed?" Younis was quoted as saying by the normally one-eyed Australian Associated Press.

Younis pointed to a previous report laid over the faster ball of Pakistan leg-spinner Shahid Afridi. "We're not cheating actually, sometimes they ask you why should you bowl very fast and then they say why should Afridi bowl a ball suddenly at 140kph? "We're not cheating actually, I think that's the beauty of cricket," said Younis. Australia captain Michael ‘Call me Skipper’ Clarke tried to play down the controversy, saying that Watson hadn't made a specific complain to umpires about Ajmal's action. "Watto certainly didn't go to the umpires and say a word, none of our players have approached the umpires and spoken about it," Clarke said. That sentence in itself covers a multitude of sins. Whislt no players directly approached the umpires it is very easy (as any fule kno’) to have a robust conversation with teammates that may possibly be overheard by the Umpires.

Michael ‘I’m a bit of a star me’ Clarke continued, "I think Watto was pretty upset with the shot he played and getting out. He's been in really good nick the whole tour and I think he's been a little bit disappointed he hasn't made as many runs as he would have liked,". All the more reason to accuse the bowler of chucking then?

The stand in Aussie skipper (sorry that should read Michael 'I have a celebrity girlfriend' Clarke said they would concentrate on the game and leave the legalities to International Cricket Council to sort out. Having of course used their typical brand of ‘psychological warfare’ or dissent as it is known in other games, to useful effect.

Jardine Verdict: Far be it for me to imply the reason that players from the sub-continent are continually targeted by Australian players is anything other than pure coincidence… However, we can expect this one to run and run.