'Liability fielder, unfit cricketer' - Laxman Sivaramakrishnan attacks R. Ashwin ahead of World Cup

Rahul Iyer

'Liability fielder, unfit cricketer' - Laxman Sivaramakrishnan attacks R. Ashwin ahead of World Cup image

In India's World Cup squad, finalised on 28 September, there was a relatively surprise inclusion in the final 15. R Ashwin, recalled to the white-ball setup, had been included in place of all-rounder Axar Patel, who had been ruled out through injury.

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Ashwin would have been looking forward to taking the field for India in their World Cup warm-up fixture on Saturday, 30 September against England in Guwahati.

The match was eventually abandoned without a ball bowled, due to incessant rain. However, there was still discussion online about Ashwin's inclusion in the squads, and what he adds to India's line-up.

'Liability fielder, unfit cricketer' - Sivaramakrishnan attacks Ashwin

Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan took to X (formerly Twitter) before the game was scheduled to start, replying to a post about the commentators slated to work during the World Cup and bemoaning the lack of a spinner among the panel.

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He went on to claim that 'pitches in India are doctored for Ashwin in Test matches', before replying to another user in a string of posts bashing the off-spinner.

Sivaramakrishnan said that 'any fool will get wickets on tampered pitches in India' and then said Ashwin was only playing for India as 'there is nobody else'. He did not stop there, calling the Tamil Nadu spinner a 'liability fielder', 'most unfit cricketer' and claiming that he 'gives excuses for everything'.

 

In another post on X, Sivaramakrishnan also congratulated the Tamil Nadu spinner for getting selected for the World Cup squad.

Who will win the 2023 World Cup?

India, England and Australia are among the top five favourites for the 2023 World Cup title. The odds from Dafabet are as follows.

Team Odds (Dafabet)
India 3.25
England 4.50
Australia 5.00
Pakistan 8.00
New Zealand 9.00

Think you know who will win the 2023 Cricket World Cup? Place your bets here with Dafabet!

Rahul Iyer

Rahul Iyer Photo

Rahul is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.