Pakistan reported for ball tampering?
Monday, June 15, 2009
By From our correspondent
LONDON: Three years becoming the first team in world cricket to forfeit a Test after being accused of ball-tampering, Pakistan are once again at the centre of a brewing controversy.
'The News' learnt here on Sunday that New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was unhappy with the state of the ball as Pakistan pacer Umar Gul took 5-6 in three overs to lead his side to an emphatic six-wicket triumph in an ICC World Twenty20 Super Eights match here at the Oval on Saturday.
According to sources, after the game Vettori filed a complaint with the ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle, requesting him to begin an inquiry. The Kiwi skipper was suspicious of some wrong doing as Umar Gul was able to attain ample reverse-swing from the ball to floor New Zealand.
However, sources said that the match referee has turned down the New Zealand request.
Madugalle, according to the sources, made it clear that there was no evidence that Pakistani players tampered with the ball during the match. He pointed towards the fact that even in the presence of numerous cameras, there was no TV footage that could back
suspicion that Pakistan may have tampered with the ball as they bowled against New Zealand.
It was also at The Oval that Pakistan were accused of ball tampering by field umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove during their fourth Test against England in the summer of 2006. Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day to protest against the umpires' decision to penalise them for alleged ball-tampering.
The umpires awarded the Test to England. An ICC inquiry later cleared Pakistan of ball-tampering charges.
Pakistan reported for ball tampering?
this is really annoyin... this is not for the first time but has happened many times before. saeed ajmal was reported few weeks back coz he was too hot for australians to handle. and now this
such acts will really effect Gul's confidence and that is the last thing we want tomorrow