Pakistan faces ball tampering allegation during 3rd test against England

[Miraz]

From cricinfo

The match took an unsavoury twist as the umpires changed the ball midway through the afternoon session after becoming unhappy about how its condition had altered. At the end of the 56th over, bowled by Danish Kaneria, Darrell Hair went over to Billy Doctrove and was seen pointing at the quarter seam. The fourth umpire, Trevor Jesty, then brought out a box of balls and the England batsmen, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, were allowed the choose the next one to be used, in accordance with the Laws.
To confirm that this had been the umpires' decision to change the ball five runs were added to England's total. Soon afterwards, Bob Woolmer was seen marching towards the match referee's office before returning to the dressing room where he talked to Waqar Younis.

More from cricinfo

England have found their excuse for poor performance in the final test.

[Miraz]

It's very important for umpires and ICC to back the allegation with proper video evidence, otherwise it will add further fume to Controversal decisions taken in the past against the Asian players by Hair and will be a disgrace for Cricket.

[Miraz]

Pakistan refuses to take the field after the controversary.

[Mr-Cricket]

Wow, this is getting kinda serious.

[Mr-Cricket]

I think they've just agreed to take the field. Doesn't really help their cause mind you. Bad light threatening.

[Mr-Cricket]

5.50pm "We are hurt and we are disappointed," says Shahrayar Khan, "and we are registering our complaints through the relevant channels."

He also added this, on Sky: "We have indicated very clearly that we can go out and play, in fact the boys came out and that we want the Test match to continue. We want this issue to be finished and resolved. We want the umpires to come out. We have indicated we are ready to come on to the field and play."

5.45pm No individual has been accused, by the way; Cricinfo have been told by sources inside the Pakistan camp.

5.40pmAt last there's an announcement over the tannoy for the crowds.

Meanwhile, Mike Atherton's opinions on Sky are scathing of Darrell Hair, saying his decision lacks any historical context and that they lacked common sense. "It's bound to inflame things. It would have been best to leave it to the end of the day. He's not a man to back down. He's a stubborn character, a strong character.. so even though Pakistan said they were willing to come back out [after the bails removal/apparent forfeiture] you could imagine him sitting in the dressing room refusing to come out."

5.32pm It gets more bizarre. Pakistan are now walking off as the umpires aren't coming out.

"It sums up the ICC for me," says Nasser Hussain on Sky. "They talk about irrelevant things. You've got a major sporting issue here at The Oval, surely Mike Procter sits down with the main people and says, "Right what's going on?" Do it behind the scenes and get a decision made and this would stop all these ridiculous scenes of players going up and down stairs."

There are press cameraman loitering at the bottom of the steps capturing these extraordinary scenes, and who can blame them. These photos will be making the backpages tomorrow for sure.

Some people aren't hanging around - fed up with the nonsense, spectators are starting to leave.

Andrew McGlashan has just had a call from a friend at the ground who confirms that none of the spectators has been told anything about what is going on.

5.30pm Boos from the crowd as Pakistan take to the field. The crowd haven't been kept informed of what's been happening, but it'sgood that Pakistan are on.

Sky are now reporting an unconfirmed rumour that Darrell Hair is now saying that if Pakistan take the field, he won't.

It's all very sad, and very messy.

5.27pm A ha, the Pakistan team have spoken with Mike Procter, the match referee, and have apparently confirmed that they will take the field. But, oh dear, the light has deteriorated so the England batsmen could take the light if they go back on the field. This is a complete farce of Carry On proportions, but without the humour.

5.25pm In a further surprising twist, the covers are now coming off and that's greeted by a huge cheer. But the stumps have still not been replaced. Whatever it is, it's a mess.

5.20pm Here's what Andrew Miller has for us. "The issue would seem to boil down to evidence. Has Darrell Hair got any proof that the Pakistanis were tampering with the ball? Did he see a specific player scratch at the seam, or did he take a look at a ball that is 55 overs old and draw his own conclusions? As Ian Botham has just said on Sky Sports, it's a matter of honour to the Pakistanis. If Hair has no proof, then they are well within their rights to take this stance." Thanks for that update, Andrew.

5.15pmThe Pakistan officials and David Morgan are now going into the Pakistan dressing room for talks.

5.10pm Kamran Akmal has been called back into the dressing room, presumably for a team meeting, whereas Shoaib Akhtar has left. They're shaking hands on the balcony. David Morgan, the ECB chairman, has just shaken hands with Zaheer Abbas. Now Morgan and Sharayar Khan, the chairman of the PCB, are sitting around to have crisis talks. Stay with us.

5.05pm Still waiting for news, as is everyone else... so bear with us...

5.00pm The bails are coming off now - suggesting the game is over - and the umpires are roundly booed by the crowd. The umpires are walking off as are the batsmen. Have Pakistan forfeited the game? We'll let you know as soon as we've got anything on that. This is a hugely serious situation - and the crowds have no idea what's going on. Stay tuned and we'll bring you the news as it develops.

4.55pm The batsmen are coming out now, to great cheers, but there's no sign of the Pakistan team. Oh, there goes Kamran Akmal, on the balcony, but he just sits down and takes his gloves off. He's making a statement of intent here, picking up his paper and just reading it. Pakistan are clearly not going to take the field now. The only people out on the field are the two batsmen and two umpires. This is most peculiar.

4.50pm Jenny here, while Andrew goes to find out what's going on... nobody seems to know, though, as the Pakistan team have delayed their arrival on to the pitch. We will let you know as soon as we know what the latest situation is, but an extraordinary day is just getting more baffling. The crowd are entertaining themselves with a Mexican wave, in the absence of any entertainment out in the middle. Stay with us.

4.45pm Zaheer Abbas, Pakistan's manager, is talking on his mobile phone on the balcony, but no sign of Inzamam or Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, who was seen before tea striding towards the match referee's office with the rule book in hand.

No doubt about it, we've got a protest in progress here.

4.40pm Now then, this is interesting. The umpires are out there, but the Pakistanis are not coming out of the dressing-room. We could have a bit of an incident here.

The slow-hand claps start to ring out ... but there is nothing doing from the Pakistanis. The England batsmen are ready, and now the umpires are having to troop back indoors.

Inzy was threatening to come out, it would seem, but now they are going deeper back into the bowels of the pavilion. I sense a major incident is about to kick off here.

4.35pm The covers are coming off, and it's looking bright enough for a resumption. And here come the umpires

Tea So the umpires call an early tea as the skies get gloomier... We'll keep you updated as to when play will recommence but meantime everyone will be reflecting on the unexpected events this afternoon. Drop us a line to let us know what you think

[Miraz]

Pakistan team again went to dressing room as umpires fail to come to the field.

[Miraz]

Darrel Hair refuses to come to the field

Watchinng the drama on sky sports.

[BangladeshFan]

daryl hair is under fire again.

it will be nice to see, how icc tackles this issue and mr. hair

[Mr-Cricket]

Ridiculous.

1. They should be informing spectators of news as it comes to hand.
2. Match Referee & Officials should be more proactive/swift in resolving issues.

[Miraz]

This is getting very tense..

Commentators are assuming Hair declared the match over by taking the bells off. In that case England will be winner. Pakistan went to the field under the direction of PCB cheif Shariyar Khan after discussion with ECB chief.

Now, nobody knows what will happen.

[Mr-Cricket]

Hair is such a tool.

What is he doing.

[Fazal]

If Hair cannot prove any evidence (who did it and when), I hope this will be end of his colorful career. And I am not sad about that prospect which is overdue for a while.

[Miraz]

Play have been called off for today.

Still uncertainity surrounds about the fate of this test.

[Banglatiger84]

Hair is a [ ] and at least in thsi case, i am fully supporting the Pakistani team's refusal to return to the field

[ialbd]

umpires shud hav returned to the field...

'barabari' from both sides....
________
FORD TH!NK

[reverse_swing]

Pakistan has long history of this. But in this case Hair's decision lacks any common sense. It would have been best to leave it to the end of the day as Atherton mentioned.

[Hatebreed]

Pakistan does have a history of tampering with the bowl, but I have a feeling it's not the case this time. They were easily in the driving seat in this test and they could win with or without cheating. I wonder if it's an England plot to avoid defeat.

[Hatebreed]

5.20pm Here's what Andrew Miller has for us. "The issue would seem to boil down to evidence. Has Darrell Hair got any proof that the Pakistanis were tampering with the ball? Did he see a specific player scratch at the seam, or did he take a look at a ball that is 55 overs old and draw his own conclusions? As Ian Botham has just said on Sky Sports, it's a matter of honour to the Pakistanis. If Hair has no proof, then they are well within their rights to take this stance." Thanks for that update, Andrew.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/engvp...ch/225258.html

[Miraz]

I am not happy with way Hair handled the situation.

It could have done in a lot better way. if he was unhappy with the ball after cook's dismissal he can bring that to the attention of the captain, Inzamam and also after pakistan failed to turn up after tea he should have consulted with Inzamam the captain of Pakistan team before takig the bell off.

He suddenly decided to change the ball and also added further controversary by taking the bells off too early.

[Ejaj]

WEll. this is notingh new. Pakistanis were always suspected of ball tempering .. only to get renamed as Reverse Swing when someone from some petty British Universtiy found the sciene behind the method to swing an old ball. So.. not at all surprised. I am pretty s ure, soon British media will be running band wagon on how did pakis temperd with the ball. ... Silly

[Miraz]

Finally the match is abandoned and still a number of issues remain unresolved.

[israr]

Breaking news
9.10pm After the news that the Test was off there are again further conflicting reports coming out of the The Oval with sources saying the match is still on. The amazing events continue to unfold.
8.50pm The Test match has finally been called off after a farcical afternoon and evening on the fourth day. The actual result is, as yet, unknown, but we will keep you posted.
8.30pm The status of the match is being reviewed; they may strip it of Test status - that's all we know from the meeting so far. Darrell Hair has gone home, so the top brass are reviewing the situation now. We still don't know if they're going to make a decision tonight. A room has been set aside for a press conference, although they may not yet be needed.
If they have to do have to appoint a new umpire, to call it a Test match could prompt anarchy. There is speculation among the press corps that Darrell Hair may be replaced mid-Test. It's up to the ICC to decide whether they can change the rules mid-match, but that could set a dangerous precedent.
In 2001 the final Test between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park, was stripped of its Test status after India refused to play with Mike Denness as match referee when he brought charges against six Indian players, including a claim that Sachin Tendulkar had tampered with the ball. Denness, and the neutal umpire George Sharp, flew home and the ICC refused to call it a Test.
7.50pm The vice chairman of the ECB, Mike Soper, has just announced that he believes that the fourth and final Test is likely to be called off after today's extraordinary scenes.
Now Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul have all left the building; they didn't stop to speak to anyone but also they had no kit with them. Once again absolutely no information is coming out at all and all the signs are utterly conflicting. The high-level meeting is still taking place in the players' dining room, but there has been no announcement coming out of it as of yet.
Duncan Fletcher and Matthew Maynard have just walked past and they spoke to the journalists to say they didn't know what the situation is.
It's just been noted that the ICC office will be closed tomorrow. As the press release has it: "The day has been declared a holiday in Dubai to mark the Ascension of the Prophet (PBUH). The office will be open as normal on Sunday 20 August (8.30am - 5pm) and, after the day off, it will reopen at 8.30am on Tuesday 22 August." Could this situation get much more farcical? Probably not...
We will keep you updated with progress.


Let me tell ya one thing...........
This is the most enigmatical, ambiguous, and grotesque incident ever witnessed in cricket history, something which the ICC shall never be proud of.

[israr]

BREAKING NEWS
Fourth cricket test forfeited by Pakistan, England win series 3-0

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by israr
BREAKING NEWS
Fourth cricket test forfeited by Pakistan, England win series 3-0

New breaking news

Test could still be on at The Oval

Source - Cricinfo