Who provoked Inzamam? The secret is out

Disparaging remarks by television commentators on Sky Sports on alleged ball-tampering by Pakistan in the Oval Test left captain Inzamam-ul-Haq furious...

Disparaging remarks by television commentators on Sky Sports on alleged ball-tampering by Pakistan in the Oval Test left captain Inzamam-ul-Haq furious and prompted the team to revolt against the umpires8217; decision.

Rejecting various theories floating about the origin of the revolt, a Pakistan team member told PTI that the final decision was taken only at tea on the fourth day. 8220;The truth is that after the ball was changed, Inzamam and other players were not aware that they had been penalised five runs on ball tampering charges. When Inzamam returned midway through the session to the dressing room, he learnt about it and then became furious on hearing comments from some of the commentators about how his team was allegedly cheating,8221; the cricketer said on condition of anonymity.

It was when the team returned to the dressing room for tea that they were all told about what had actually transpired on the field and that they were being charged with tampering with the ball. 8220;Inzamam was very angry and asked each and every player if they had done something with the ball which had led to this situation8221; the member said.

8220;The problem was that when the ball was being changed, neither umpire communicated to Inzamam that they were penalising five runs for ball tampering. This was something Inzamam only learnt after returning to the dressing room and hearing the commentators,8221; he said.

The team member said every player had supported Inzamam8217;s contention and it was a team decision to refrain from going out on the field until the umpires explained why they had made allegations of ball-tampering.

Then, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan came to the dressing room and tried to pacify the players, saying that he would take up the issue with the ICC, but he could not calm them down, the player said.

Let me catch ball-tamperers: Sarfraz

SLAMABAD: Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz today said he was able to detect ball-tampering from 1,000 yards away and offered cricket chiefs his services to stop the practice.

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Nawaz, hailed as the pioneer of reverse swing and a key member of the Pakistan squad in the early 1970s and 1980s, said tampering was out of control in the modern game. 8220;I can catch a player or bowler tampering from 1,000 yards,8221; said Nawaz, who played 55 Tests and 45 one-dayers for Pakistan.