ICC’s credibility is at stake

For last quarter century, international cricket is haunted by ball tampering controversies. Latest in the list is Faf du Plessis of South Africa. During Pakistan’s second innings in Dubai Test match, he was caught forcibly rubbing one side of the ball against zipper-lined pockets of his trouser. It was fairly obvious that Faf du Plessis was deliberately tampering the cricket ball to help his fast bowlers.

The ICC confirmed that the five-run penalty and the change of ball after 30 overs was due to ball tampering. “As per 42.1.1 of ICC playing conditions, the umpires replaced the ball and fined South Africa team five penalty runs for ball tampering”.

Faf du Plessis was not given any match suspension. He was only fined 50% of his match fee. That showed double standards of ICC in dealing with ball tampering issues. On the previous occasion when a team was imposed five run penalty, Pakistan was on the receiving end and was widely accused as ‘cheats’. It was at The Oval against England in 2006. 

Pakistan Cricket Board and former England captain Michael Vaughan challenged ICC over punishment given to Faf du Plessis. Pakistan has demanded explanation from ICC. Michael Vaughan has demanded severe action against Faf du Plessis and a ban of at least 10 Test matches.

The incidence caused much expected outrage in Pakistan and other Asian countries. A careful look on to the list of ball tampering controversies in international cricket, clearly suggests that ICC has double standards. Whenever an Asian cricketer was charged, he was penalized with match suspensions and his team was widely accused of being ‘cheats’, while all ‘white’ cricketers got away with the charges with minimal or no punishment at all. Let’s have a look on to previous incidents:

• ·         New Zealand worked on the ball with a bottle top during the third Test match against Pakistan at Faisalabad in 1990. Kiwi paceman Chris Pringle took 11 wickets in the match but New Zealand lost the Test and was whitewashed in the series 3-0. 

• ·         England captain Michael Atherton was caught rubbing the ball with loose soil kept in his pocket during Lord’s Test match against South Africa in 1994. He was fined and British press demanded resignation. Michael Atherton did not resign and kept on captaining England cricket team.

• ·         Pakistan’s paceman Waqar Younis was the first player suspended for ball tampering. It was during a triangular One Day Internationals series in Sri Lanka in 2000. He was caught to have gouged the side of the ball with his thumb nail.

• ·         India’s Sachin Tendulkar was also suspended for one match when he was caught scuffing the seam of the ball during the second Test match against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 2001. 

• ·         In Pakistan’s fourth Test against England at The Oval in 2006, umpires Darrell Hair of Australia and Billy Doctrove of West Indies, docked Pakistan five runs for ball tampering. Pakistan refused to take the field and forfeited the match in protest.

• ·         England bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad were accused of deliberately standing on the ball with their spikes during a Test match against South Africa in 2010. No charges were formally laid against two fast bowlers and they got away with the charges.

• ·         Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi tried to bite the ball in a One Day International against Australia at Perth in 2010. The third umpire spotted him and ordered the ball to be replaced. Shahid Afridi was banned for two matches.

• ·         Sri Lankan team accused Australian seamer Peter Siddle of ball tampering by lifting seam of the ball in 2012. Peter Siddle was cleared of all charges.

• ·         Cricket commentator and former England captain Bob Willis accused his fellow countrymen of ball tampering during 2013 Champions Trophy. Players denied his accusations and no formal inquiry was initiated.

The above list confirms that Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Sachin Tendulkar were penalized with match suspensions. Chris Pringle, Michael Atherton, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Peter Siddle and Faf du Plessis got away with whatever they did. ICC has double standards and that’s for sure. It is not players’ but ICC’s credibility that is greatly tarnished and severely at stake. Unless there is uniformity in the implementation of rules, ICC’s credibility would remain at stake.