adminDUBAI. — Pakistan were staring defeat in the second Test cricket in the face after South Africa out-batted them and then bowled well on the third day in Dubai yesterday.
But South Africa were later docked five penalty runs for ball-tampering.
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 notice of the ball and took the decision. Under 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.
The level two offense of changing the condition of the ball carries a fine of 50 to 100 percent match fee or a ban of one Test, two one-day or two Twenty20 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 we want to swing the ball as much as you can and try to get it reverse, putting sweat on the one side and stuff like that, we don’t cheat, it’s as simple as that.
“I know Faffy very well, he’s the last man to try anything like that, it is part of his responsibility to shine the ball and to get it to swing and to look it after, it’s not an easy job, I thought he did it very well.”
Asked did the incident shocked the Proteas, De Villiers replied: “Honeslty I don’t know what happened there, I don’t even know from where the message came from, obviously very surprised.
“There was no talk about it, no warnings and nothing, it was just out of nowhere, I don’t know the facts, I have said what I had to say about Faff and it’s pretty much about it.”
Pakistan are the only other team to have been penalised with five penalty runs, during the infamous Oval Test against England in 2006.
Former Pakistan pacemen Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, all-rounder Azhar Mahmood and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi have all been banned for tampering in the past.
India’s Sachin Tendulkar and England’s Mike Atherton were also suspended and fined for tampering.
Yesterday, South Africa, seeking a series-levelling win, once again rocked Pakistan’s top order with three early wickets after compiling a mammoth 517 in their first innings for a big 418-run lead at Dubai stadium.
At the close, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq (42) and Asad Shafiq (28) were at the crease but they still need a whopping 286 runs to avoid an innings defeat or bat out two days to force a draw.
The duo have added 62 for the fifth wicket and would need a Herculean effort to avoid defeat.
But South Africa’s bid for victory, and keeping their seven-year unbeaten away series record, was tainted when they were docked five penalty runs by the onfield umpires after television replays showed Faf du Plessis apparently trying to tamper with the ball in Pakistan’s 31st over.
The two umpires, Rod Tucker of Australia and Ian Gould of England, called South African captain Graeme Smith for a warning, changed the ball and added five penalty runs to Pakistan’s total.
Under International Cricket Council rules, if the umpires lay charges against any player match-referee David Boon will summon the player.
But even that South African setback couldn’t save Pakistan as they continued to slump after finding themselves on two for two at lunch.
Dale Steyn gave South Africa an ideal start as he removed Shan Masood with the fourth ball of the innings, having him trapped in front of the wicket with a sharp delivery for nought. It became two for two when Khurram Manzoor fell for his second duck of the match, caught off a miscued drive off Vernon Philander from the fifth ball of the second over.
Manzoor had made 146 in Pakistan’s seven-wicket in last week’s Abu Dhabi Test. Azhar Ali and Younis added 46 for the third wicket before part-time spinner Jean-Paul Duminy struck with his first ball, trapping Ali lbw with a low delivery for 19.
Duminy could have taken Younis on 28 but Kallis failed to hold a low catch in the slips.
Younis was finally bowled for 38 by leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who took a career-best 5-32 to dismiss Pakistan for a paltry 99 in the first innings.
AB de Villiers was understandably optimistic about his side’s chances.
“We definitely are in a position to win the match,” said De Villiers. “They are four down and the new ball in the corner tomorrow so if we get the fifth man out and get to the tail.” — AFP.
Online Reporter