India's previous fast bowler, Shabbir Ahmed, accuses them of tampering with the ball during the Oval Test against Pakistan.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed has sparked an online debate by accusing the Indian cricket team of ball tampering during the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at The Oval. Ahmed claimed that India used Vaseline to keep the ball shiny despite being used for over 80 overs, aiding swing bowling by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in their dramatic six-run win over England [1][2][3].
However, these allegations are unproven and regarded as baseless by many experts. The match officials did not report any suspicious activity, and no official investigation outcome against India has been made public as of now. It was noted that with modern broadcasting technology and strict scrutiny by umpires and match referees, such ball tampering would be hard to pull off unnoticed—especially given harsh punishments in previous high-profile cases like the 2018 Australian scandal [3].
Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the allegations have stirred up discussions online. Shabbir Ahmed questioned the condition of the ball used by India on Days 4 and 5, urging International Cricket Council (ICC) officials to send it for forensic examination [1][2][3]. However, the ICC has not yet sent the ball for such examination, nor has it publicly commented on Ahmed's suggestion.
The final day of the Test saw England looking set to pull off a record chase of 374, with Joe Root and Harry Brook guiding the hosts to 301/3. However, a stunning collapse triggered by Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna turned the tide, with England eventually bowled out for 367. The pitch at The Oval was regarded as the most balanced of the series, providing an even contest between bat and ball.
The ICC and match officials have not responded publicly to Ahmed's ball tampering claims. Neither has there been any official complaint lodged regarding these allegations. The dramatic match ended with India clinching a nail-biting six-run victory, levelling the five-match series 2-2.
As the online discussion about Ahmed's ball tampering allegations against India continues to gain traction, it remains to be seen whether any further investigation will be initiated or whether the matter will be laid to rest without any official confirmation or denial.
[1] [Link to source 1] [2] [Link to source 2] [3] [Link to source 3]
The online debate about Shabbir Ahmed's ball tampering allegations against India extends to various topics, including sports, news, business, entertainment, and politics. Despite the ICC and match officials remaining silent on the matter, it has become a popular discussion point among cricket enthusiasts. The potential outcome of such allegations may have implications for the sports, entertainment, and business industries, as well as political relations between Pakistan and India.
