Indian umpire Anil Choudhary made cheap remarks on Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, calling him a “kabootar” due to his on-field behavior. Anil Choudhary, who officiated during the 2023 Asia Cup, expressed his frustration with Rizwan’s frequent and, in his view, unnecessary appeals during matches.
During the podcast, the Indian umpire recounted his experiences with Rizwan, particularly highlighting the challenges posed by the player’s persistent appeals. “I encountered him [Rizwan] in last year’s Asia Cup. He keeps shouting on every ball. I even notified the other umpire about what Rizwan was doing,” Choudhary stated.
He further elaborated on an incident where his warning to a fellow umpire prevented a potentially erroneous decision, while also throwing unnecessary shade at the Pakistani player.
There was a moment when the other umpire was close to obliging to his appeal but he suddenly recalled my words and turned it down,” Choudhary explained. He then made a disparaging comment about Rizwan’s appearance and behavior, saying, “Isn’t he the one who puts something like a lipstick? He keeps jumping like a pigeon.
Choudhary emphasized that experienced umpires are adept at recognizing such tactics, suggesting that Rizwan’s approach was ineffective against seasoned officials. “But the good umpires are wise enough to judge such acts. When the umpires are good, such keepers are losers,” he remarked. He advised wicketkeepers to avoid making false appeals, warning that they could undermine their credibility even when making legitimate calls.