Five infamous sledging incidents in Cricket World Cup History
Cricket has always witnessed sledging especially in high octane clashes. The verbal battles have been witnessed across formats since decades and during the Cricket World Cup, the level to sledging goes to the another level. With the ICC World Cup 2019 underway, here we go back in time and list out five infamous sledging moments in the marquee event.
In the 1996 World Cup, Pakistan openers Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar were smashing the Indian bowlers all over the park. Venkatesh Prasad was hit for a couple of boundaries and things started to heat up. Sohail mocked Prasad by gesturing that he should fetch the ball. On the very next delivery, Prasad rattled his stumps and showed him the way to the pavilion.
Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi was caught sledging Indian cricketers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar during the overhyped battle in the 2003 World Cup. Not only that, Afridi also sledged English umpire David Shepherd as well after he rejected an appeal for LBW decision. The Pakistan Cricket Board fined Afridi 50% of his match fees and was banned for the upcoming tri-series in Sharjah.
Former Pakistan legend Javed Miandad's mocking of Indian wicket-keeper Kiran More ended up becoming an iconic image in World Cup cricket. Miandad was miffed at More for his constant appeals and verbal words. Miandad survived a run-out chance and then started jumping in the air with his bat up, imitating More's hyperactive appeals. It was a sight that will be remembered forever.
In the 1999 edition of the World Cup, Australia needed to beat South Africa to keep their tournament hopes alive. Skipper Steve Waugh, who was on 56*, mistimed a shot and gifted Herschelle Gibbs a simple catch. The Proteas man tried tossing the ball up to celebrate the catch, but instead dropped it. Waugh reportedly retorted, "You've just dropped the World Cup."
In the 2011 World Cup, a young Virat Kohli was asked to bat at number four by India against Bangladesh in the tournament opener. Just as the young Kohli was trying to settle in, he mistimed a shot which was hit straight to the bowler (Rubel Hossain) on the bounce. Rubel gave an animated stare, before an aggressive Kohli started hurling abuses.
