Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Amir indulged in a war of words on social media platform twitter in the wee hours of Wednesday. What initially looked like light-hearted banter, quickly escalated into an ugly war of words between the duo as both players traded insults.
The entire episode caught the eye of users on social media and here we take a closer look at how the ugly online spat between the two transpired.
How did the Mohammad Amir, Harbhajan Singh twitter spat start?
The incident first started when the Pakistan fast bowler took a jibe at Harbhajan Singh on twitter after Pakistan’s historic 10-wicket win over India in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday.
hello everyone woh pochna yeah tha @harbhajan_singh paa ji ne TV to ni tora apna koi ni hota hai end of the day its a game of cricket 😊.
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) October 25, 2021
In the above tweet, Amir in a cheeky manner asked Harbhajan whether he broke his television set following India’s defeat to Pakistan in a Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup 2021.
Not one to take things lying down during his playing career or in retirement, the Turbanator as Harbhajan is fondly called soon responded with a video of his match-winning innings against Pakistan in the 2010 Asia Cup.
Ab Tum bi bologe @iamamirofficial yeh 6 ki landing tumhare ghar k tv par to nahi hui thi ?? Koi nahi hota hai end of the day it’s a game of cricket as u rightly said 🤣 https://t.co/XqSnWhg9t3 pic.twitter.com/4IuWpPOpF1
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 26, 2021
Spurred on by Bhajji’s response, Mohammad Amir hit back with a tweet that reminded the former off-spinner about the time when Shahid Afridi hit Harbhajan Singh for four sixes in an over during the first Test of India’s tour of Pakistan in 2005-06 and that’s when things really escalated.
https://t.co/tZGLtwBKCa me busy tha @harbhajan_singh apki bowling dekh raha tha test jab LaLA ne apko 4 bowls pe 4 sixes mare thay but cricket hai lag sakte but test cricket me 😅😅😅😅thora ziada ho gia tha
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) October 26, 2021
Bhajji calls Amir a fixer; pacer hits back at off-spinner’s supposed suspect action
Riled up by Amir’s retort, Harbhjan Singh countered with an image of Mohammad Amir’s infamous no ball in a Test against England in 2010.
Amir was later found guilty of match-fixing for bowling multiple intentional no balls during that match and was banned from playing cricket along with bowler Mohammad Asif and then captain Salman Butt, who were also found guilty.
For people like you @iamamirofficial only Paisa paisa paisa paisa .. na izzat na kuch aur sirf paisa..bataoge nahi apne desh walo ko aur supporters ko k kitna mila tha .. get lost I feel yuk talking to people like you for insulting this game and making people fool with ur acts https://t.co/5aPmXtYKqm pic.twitter.com/PhveqewN6h
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 26, 2021
The incident led to the Pakistan left-arm pacer’s lengthy exile from international cricket before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lifted his ban in 2016, allowing the tainted fast bowler to make a comeback.
Amir though wasn’t done just yet and fired back by reminding the legendary Indian off-spinner of his reported suspect bowling action during his playing days. In the tweet below, Amir asked Harbhajan about his illegal bowling action.
Bare hi dheet ho talking about my past wouldn't change the fact that tumko 3 din pehle moun ki khani pari. and how about your illegal bowling action mate ab nikal or humko WC win karta dekh. walk over tu nhi mila jao Park me walk karo u'll feel better @harbhajan_singh https://t.co/i1dCh7I28c
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) October 26, 2021
It was in reference to the Jalandhar-born player’s doosra - a ball that spins in the other direction as opposed to conventional off-spin - that was suspected for extending past the 15-degree permissible arm limit by a match referee in 2005. Harbhajan’s bowling action, however, was cleared after being initially reported.
Featured photo: Mal Faircough / AFP
