desinetcharge
November 13th, 2002, 07:07 AM
Shoaib guilty of ball-tampering
Shoaib is the world's fastest bowler
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been found guilty of ball-tampering in the first Test against Zimbabwe.
Match referee Clive Lloyd said the umpires had reported the matter to him and there was agreement that Shoaib had changed the condition of the ball illegally.
The match ended in a 119-run victory for Pakistan on Tuesday with a day to spare, with Shoaib taking seven wickets in the match.
"The umpires and I inspected the ball and it was clear to us that it had been scratched," Lloyd said.
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 119 runs
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Should Akhtar be banned?
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Shoaib received a severe reprimand but no further action is to be taken.
The announcement followed a disciplinary hearing at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday evening.
Shoaib attended the hearing, along with tour manager Brigadier Khawaja Nasir and Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.
Law 42.3b
It is unfair for anyone to interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to wait for a complete manager's report before deciding on further action.
"We think the bowler committed a mistake and has been reprimanded," PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan told BBC Sport Online.
"We have reason to believe that the offence was of minor magnitude because history suggests that players involved in ball-tampering have been severely punished."
Waqar is the only player ever to have received a ban for ball-tampering.
He was given a one-match suspension two years ago after he was seen on television lifting the seam during a one-day international against South Africa in Sri Lanka.
Allrounder Azhar Mahmood was also fined 50% of his match fee for a similar offence.
Waqar was suspended for a match two years ago
Shoaib has been twice in the past been reported for an illegal bowling action, although he was cleared on both occasions by the ICC.
But Hasan denied that the episode would further tarnish the image of Pakistan's bowlers.
"We don't think the image of Pakistan's bowlers will be tarnished on this," he said.
"If someone breaks a rule he is punished and Shoaib has been reprimanded only."
Feature: Cricket's sharp practice
Law 42.3b states it is "unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, or interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball."
It is also illegal to "use any implement, or take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of the ball."
"The board would be interested to know whether the ball that is alleged to have been tampered with was replaced," Hasan added.
"[And] whether it was scratched or lost its shape due to hitting the iron fence on several occasions."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/2458639.stm
Shoaib is the world's fastest bowler
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been found guilty of ball-tampering in the first Test against Zimbabwe.
Match referee Clive Lloyd said the umpires had reported the matter to him and there was agreement that Shoaib had changed the condition of the ball illegally.
The match ended in a 119-run victory for Pakistan on Tuesday with a day to spare, with Shoaib taking seven wickets in the match.
"The umpires and I inspected the ball and it was clear to us that it had been scratched," Lloyd said.
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 119 runs
View scorecard
Should Akhtar be banned?
Have Your Say
Shoaib received a severe reprimand but no further action is to be taken.
The announcement followed a disciplinary hearing at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday evening.
Shoaib attended the hearing, along with tour manager Brigadier Khawaja Nasir and Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.
Law 42.3b
It is unfair for anyone to interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to wait for a complete manager's report before deciding on further action.
"We think the bowler committed a mistake and has been reprimanded," PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan told BBC Sport Online.
"We have reason to believe that the offence was of minor magnitude because history suggests that players involved in ball-tampering have been severely punished."
Waqar is the only player ever to have received a ban for ball-tampering.
He was given a one-match suspension two years ago after he was seen on television lifting the seam during a one-day international against South Africa in Sri Lanka.
Allrounder Azhar Mahmood was also fined 50% of his match fee for a similar offence.
Waqar was suspended for a match two years ago
Shoaib has been twice in the past been reported for an illegal bowling action, although he was cleared on both occasions by the ICC.
But Hasan denied that the episode would further tarnish the image of Pakistan's bowlers.
"We don't think the image of Pakistan's bowlers will be tarnished on this," he said.
"If someone breaks a rule he is punished and Shoaib has been reprimanded only."
Feature: Cricket's sharp practice
Law 42.3b states it is "unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, or interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball."
It is also illegal to "use any implement, or take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of the ball."
"The board would be interested to know whether the ball that is alleged to have been tampered with was replaced," Hasan added.
"[And] whether it was scratched or lost its shape due to hitting the iron fence on several occasions."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/2458639.stm