Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop is among the calmest and composed people in cricket broadcasting. But even Bishop had to come out and hit back at a Pakistani journalist over his comments on a Pakistani youngster during the U19 World Cup tournament.
Ian Bishop engaged in a Twitter conversation with veteran Pakistani journalist and YouTuber Waheed Khan after the latter criticized the former for a comment he made on Ali Raza, a 15-year-old pacer who produced a sensational bowling performance of 4/34 in the semi-final against Australia in Benoni.
Although Raza’s spell went in vain as Australia clinched the win by 1 wicket in the last over, the youngster earned praise from everyone, including Bishop, who has a keen eye for spotting talents, especially pacers.
Ian Bishop said Raza is a future superstar. Waheed Khan, however, tried to bring down both Bishop and Raza, saying that the commentator “makes every 2nd player a superstar,” pointing out that Carlos Brathwaite’s career didn’t materialize as everyone expected after his epic feat of four sixes in four balls to Ben Stokes to win West Indies the 2016 T20 World Cup in Kolkata.
Bishop has rarely interacted in such a conversation on Twitter but realized he had to give back to the journalist. And he gave back in a gracious and elegant manner, just as his commentary.
Ian Bishop replied, “@waheedkhan I was an ambitionless, drifting teenager when I first played senior cricket with Phil Simmons, against Marshall, Garner & later, Holding. I heard they’d said nice things about my game. That inspired me to believe in myself. I’ll never stop passing that on to others.”
Check out the entire conversation here: Ian Bishop gives a befitting reply to a Pakistani journalist
Meanwhile, the U19 World Cup 2024 final will be played between India and Australia this Sunday. India are undefeated in the tournament.
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