Johnson slams ICC for fake interview: Former Australian speedster was seen at odds against ICC after it uploaded a fake interview.
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In the recent times, former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has probably been active on social media platform Twitter more than any other cricketer. From posting a sarcastic tweet on one of Kohli’s dismissal in the ongoing Test series to criticizing the Indian captain for initiating verbals in the second Test to arguing with former India opening batsman Aakash Chopra over the wicket in Perth, Johnson has been there and done that.
Johnson’s activeness saw him getting hold of a fake interview which had quotes by him on the same platform. The fact that the interview was posted on International Cricket Council’s official website was what came as flabbergasting for all the fans.
It all happened in the morning when ICC quoted Johnson as praising the Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
“The bowler who impressed me most is Jasprit Bumrah. He has a unique action, but is very consistent with his line and length. He hardly bowls a loose delivery, which means he is hard to score off and any batsman will think twice before taking him on. The pressure he creates at one end often leads to wickets tumbling at the other,” Johnson was quoted as saying according to ICC’s website.
“He hardly bowls a loose delivery, and any batsman will think twice before taking him on.”@MitchJohnson398 likes what he sees of Jasprit Bumrah. 🔥👇https://t.co/gJBOK1gquH pic.twitter.com/R1rjqbf7ll
— ICC (@ICC) December 23, 2018
Where has this come from? I don’t recall this. Who wrote this? I do agree with parts of it but I never sat down with anyone from memory https://t.co/mlqSWdFuFS
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 23, 2018
Interestingly, ICC tweeted back to Johnson after removing the article from their website.
Good evening Mitch. Given your Twitter comments, we are going to unpublish the article that features quotes that have been attributed to you. Please get in touch via DM if you’d like to issue a clarification https://t.co/FPF6hyjNFn
— ICC (@ICC) December 23, 2018
While the matter appeared to have ended over there, it didn’t as one of India’s leading daily in Times of India also uploaded the interview on their website. Just as ICC, TOI was also criticized by Johnson. Apparently, it was from this website that ICC had taken quotes from.
Any batsman will think twice before taking Jasprit Bumrah on: Mitchell Johnson https://t.co/loe3RASCM0
— TOI Sports News (@TOISportsNews) December 23, 2018
Interesting article @TOISportsNews given I’m not in Melbourne & never sat down for a Q&A with this journalist https://t.co/BUNn1klcoc
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 23, 2018
Evening Mitch. The quotes came from this interview on the Times of India site, written by Sumit Mukherjee: https://t.co/VuUOuiUNUj
— Alistair Hogg (@AlistairICC) December 23, 2018
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Johnson below:
TOI stands by its interview with @MitchJohnson398 which was carried on December 23, 2018. Read our statement below. pic.twitter.com/DE5uxnk86j
— TOI Sports News (@TOISportsNews) December 24, 2018
@IndiaToday @the_hindu @ndtv @IndianExpress @NewIndianXpress @nramind @sardesairajdeep @rahulkanwal @PTI_News @ShekharGupta @TOIIndiaNews TOI, sue Mitchell Johnson if he is wrong. In case he is right, the sack the reporter. Disgraceful & a blot on India. MSM in India sucks!!
— Ram Sundaresan (@Rama_Sundaresan) December 24, 2018
The interview apparently occurred over several chats that Mitchell Johnson thought were, well, just chats? Only plausible explanation. https://t.co/TCuZeHprx9
— Manisha Pande (@MnshaP) December 24, 2018
Going by the replies to this, TOI has done the impossible… Made non-Aussies side with Mitchell Johnson. https://t.co/kzHmHa5QqZ
— Sahil Rizwan (@SahilRiz) December 24, 2018