Pakistan find a tamepring excuse for losing!

“And then to hear something like this is extremely upsetting,” Tendulkar said of the charges made by Pakistani speedster Abdur Razzaq after India’s comprehensive win in a crucial clash.

The referee also dismissed alleged breaches of Code Of Conduct charges against seamer Venkatesh Prasad, who was accused of calling Azhar Mahmood names and swearing at Yousuf Youhana, for lack of proper evidence, an Australian Cricket Board press release said on Wednesday.

However, the referee warned speedster Debashis Mohanty, found to be rushing in from outside the 30-yard circle in the the 15 overs, to be “more careful”, in the future, the release added.

Angry Indian coach Kapil Dev said: “We have never tampered with the ball and to accuse a guy like Tendulkar of doing it is absolutely ridiculous. It just goes to show to what extent teams go to find excuses for their defeat.

“I am very upset because they have made accusation against a person who has played 10 years of top class cricket and has never been involved in any controversy whatsoever.”

He wondered why the Pakistanis did not complain about it to the umpires on the field, a view supported by former Australian stumper and now a TV commentator, Ian Healy.

“The umpires do have a look at the ball all the time. I think Pakistan’s complaint is out of order,” Healy said.

“Before making any accusation, you must look at the stature and track record of the man,” said Kapil Dev.

The Indian coach also made a veiled reference to Pakistan’s record in this regard. Pakistan has been accused many times by various Test playing countries of ball tampering. Their former captain Imran Khan had even admitted in his autobiograhy of working on the ball with a bottle-top.

“A ball tampering charge coming from Pakistan? Pakistan talking about ball-tampering, I should not be saying anything more,” the highest wicket-taker in Tests said.

He also wondered whether any action could be taken against the team which has levelled unsubstantiated charges.

“I would not say any action be taken against them (Pakistan) but surely someone should be answerable (for making such a charge),” he said.