KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) might have cleared Liam Plunkett for ball-tampering during England’s second One-day International against Pakistan on Saturday but a complaint can still be lodged against the paceman by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“Yes as per the code of conduct — a CEO of either of the two sides can lodge a complaint”, an ICC spokesperson told this correspondent on Sunday. “For level three offence, they [PCB in this case] can formally complain within 96 hours of the incident or them being made aware of it.”

England won the game by 12 runs, defending their total of 373 despite a superb century from Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman.

In a widely-circulating video, the Plunkett can be seen scratching the ball, leading to belief that the tampering could have been done to produce reverse swing in death overs.

During the penultimate over that he bowled, Plunkett sent Faheem Ashraf back to the pavilion allowing eight runs while in the overall nine overs that he bowled, he turned over 64 runs.

When he was made aware of the images on Sunday, Plunkett himself reported the footage to match referee Richie Richardson and said he was only spinning the ball in his fingers.

Richardson spoke to the on-field umpire Chris Gaffaney on Sunday who confirmed he had no suspicions over the condition of the ball.

“The match officials are comfortable that there was no attempt to change the condition of the ball or any evidence of this on the over by over examination of the ball throughout the game,” said the ICC in a statement.

The ball looked as if it had flaps of leather hanging off it and was in poor condition by the end of the Pakistan innings but the white kookaburra does not wear well. The LED advertising boards also damage the ball.

There are two different balls used at each end and at the conclusion of each over the ball is returned to the umpire.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2019