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Saturday, October 26, 2013
South Africa players caught tampering the ballDUBAI: South Africa were docked five penalty runs for ball-tampering on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai on Friday.
Television replays showed South African fielder Faf du Plessis rubbing the ball on his trousers, which had a zip on them, in an apparent attempt to tamper with the ball. Umpires Rod Tucker of Australia and England’s Ian Gould called South African captain Graeme Smith, changed the ball and added five runs to Pakistan’s score. Pakistan were struggling at 62 for three with Dale Steyn about to start the 31st over when the umpires took the decision.
“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 International Cricket Council (ICC) spokesman. A decision on the incident is expected early today (Saturday) although the ICC refused to confirm details. The level two offence of changing the condition of the ball carries a fine of 50 to 100 percent of a player’s match fee or a ban of one Test, two one-dayers or two Twenty20 matches, whichever comes first for South Africa. South African vice-captain AB De Villiers denied the charges.
“Honestly, we’re not the team that scratches the ball,” said De Villiers. “We play in a fair manner. Obviously you want to swing the ball as much as you can and try to get it to reverse, putting sweat on the one side and stuff like that. We don’t cheat, it’s as simple as that. afp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk