2nd Dubai Test: Ball-tampering takes gloss off S Africa exploits

Former Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan urged the ICC to probe the matter.

KARACHI:

A ball-tampering controversy erupted on Friday during the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa, taking some of the shine off the Proteas’ exploits in the field.

Television replays showed South African fielder Faf du Plessis rubbing the ball against the zip on his trouser pocket during the third day’s play in Dubai. This was a blatant attempt to change the shape of the ball. The incident occurred in the 30th over that was bowled by J P Duminy.

South Africa were subsequently docked five penalty runs for the illegal act, tarnishing their bid for victory in the final Test of the series. Pakistan had been struggling  62 for three, needing another 356 runs to avoid an innings defeat, when umpires noticed the ball and took the decision.

Captain Graeme Smith accepted the decision of umpires Rod Tucker of Australia and England’s Ian Gould to change the ball and add five runs to Pakistan’s score. Play continued subsequently and closed with Pakistan at 132-4, still need 286 more runs to avoid defeat.

Under the International Cricket Council (ICC) rule 42.1 on tampering, if an umpire spots a change in the condition of the ball but doesn’t know who is the culprit he will issue a first and final warning to the captain and the ball will be changed.



In case the ball is tampered with again, the bowling team will face a five-run penalty and umpires will not only change the ball again but the captain will be held responsible and reported.

But in this case the umpires saw Du Plessis rubbing the ball in an apparent move to tamper with the ball and they called Smith and docked five penalty runs.

An ICC spokesman confirmed the incident.

“As per 42.1 of the ICC playing conditions, the umpires replaced the ball and fined South Africa five penalty runs for ball tampering,” said an ICC spokesman.

AB de Villiers denies act

However, AB de Villiers denied the involvement of any of his teammates in ball tampering.

“We are not a team that scratches the ball. We play in a fair manner,” said the South Africa vice captain after the close of the third day’s play.

“We don’t cheat it’s as simple as that. I know Faf [Du Plessis] very well, he will be the last man to that.”

Several big names of the gentleman’s game including Sachin Tendulkar and Shahid Afridi were fined or punished after being found guilty of ball tampering.

Tendulkar received a one-match suspended ban from match referee Mike Denness during the Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in November 2001.

Afridi was the last player penalised for the offence, receiving ban for two T20s after he was caught biting the ball in 2010.

A notable incident occurred at the Oval in 2006, when Pakistan had to forfeit their Test against England after then captain Inzamamul Haq refused to take the field following a ball tampering decision against the team. Umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove had docked five runs from Pakistan in the match.

‘ICC must act strictly’

Former Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan has urged the ICC to probe the matter. “It’s a disgrace for this beautiful game,” said the former Test opener.

“The ICC needs to take strong action and set an example for the rest of the teams.”

Former paceman Shoaib Akhtar also expressed surprise at the incident.

“It was an unnecessary act… South Africa did not need it… They were in a strong position but they have hurt themselves,” he said in an interview with a television channel.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2013.