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| September 07, 2006 | Thursday | Sha'aban 13, 1427 |
Younis plays down ball incident
SOUTHAMPTON, Sept 6: Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan insisted too much had been made of an incident showing team-mate Shoaib Akhtar working on the ball during the tourists' two-wicket win in the third One-day International win.
Pictures screened by host broadcaster Sky Television showed fast bowler Shoaib flicking at the ball with his left thumb as he walked back to his mark.
However, umpires Nigel Llong and Billy Doctrove having reviewed the footage alongside match referee Mike Procter, did not take any action.
“In my eyes it looked like he was picking some dust,” Younis told reporters.
“Why do we make it a big issue every time the ball is reverse swinging?
“In the last 20 years it has been made a big issue but to me it is a small issue, cricket is a gentleman's game so let's make it simple.
“Reverse swing is happening all the time — Australia do it, England did it in the Ashes last year — because pitches are dry, everybody is used to it in these conditions.”
Pakistan forfeited the fourth Test against England last month having refused to take the field following the fourth day tea interval at The Oval in protest at being penalised five runs for “ball-tampering” earlier in the day.
Disciplinary charges arising from that match against Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq have still to be heard although he, his team-mates and the Pakistan management have continued to protest his innocence.—AFP
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