November 14, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 8, 1423

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HARARE, Nov 13: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been found guilty of ball tampering in the first Test against Zimbabwe, match referee Clive Lloyd said Wednesday.

Lloyd confirmed the umpires had reported the matter to him and there was agreement that Shoaib had changed the condition of the ball illegally during the match which ended with Pakistan’s 119-run victory on Tuesday with a day to spare.

“The umpires and I inspected the ball, and it was clear to us that it had been scratched,” Lloyd told Reuters.

Lloyd replied in the affirmative when asked whether the guilty player was Shoaib, adding “we have severely reprimanded him”. He said no further action would be taken.

Pakistan team manager Brigadier KM Nasir told Reuters he was satisfied with Lloyd’s handling of the matter.

“Based on the evidence, the referee has warned him (Shoaib) and the proper procedures have been followed,” Nasir said.

Asked if Shoaib would be subjected to internal disciplinary measures, Nasir said: “You do talk to the boys about these things.” But he said he regarded the matter as closed.

Umpires Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Dave Orchard had two discussions with Pakistan captain Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar before and after lunch on Tuesday over the condition of the ball.

Shoaib Akhtar left the field immediately after the second discussion, which followed his 14th over. He returned to bowl the penultimate over before tea.

The Pakistan express bowler finished with a match analysis of seven for 118 as the visitors won the match by 119 runs with a day to spare.—Reuters