South Africa fined five runs for ball tampering

Ball tampering is not a new issue in the game of cricket. It is considered as the punishable crime. Recently, South Africa cricket team has been accused for ball tampering against Pakistan on the third day of the second Test in Dubai. They were penalized five runs because of their crime.

In television replays South African fielder, Faf Du Plessis, is found rubbing the ball on the zipper of his trouser pocket which has been regarded as an evidence of trying to tamper the ball. It is yet to determine what is going to happen on the fate of this accused player. His hearing will be declared when a hearing will take place after the end of the play.

If he found guilty then of ball tampering then he will be fined 50 to 100% of his match fees or he will be banned for one Test or two ODIs or two Twenty20s, whichever comes first.

According to International Cricket Council (ICC) rule 42.1 on tampering, the umpire not only changed the ball but also fined South Africa team five runs as penalty for ball tampering. It was confirmed by the ICC that due to ball tampering the accused team was penalized and ball was changed after 30 overs without giving a first warning. It indicates that ICC is certain of the identity of the ball-tampering player.

Ball tampering was found at the start of the 31^st over of Pakistan’s innings when umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker called South African captain Graeme Smith for a chat. The fourth umpire, Shozab Raza, brought a box of balls onto the field and a new one was selected for use.

Pakistani all-rounder, Shahid Afridi, was the last player who was found guilty of ball tampering in 2010 and as a punishment, he was banned for two T20s.