#Cheatgate: Which cricketers have been involved in ball-tampering?
Australia's tour of South Africa has been marred with controversies. Australians have been found guilty of ball-tampering during the third Test. Batsman Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith admitted to ball tampering charges, after the former was caught using a yellow object to alter the condition of the ball. In this context, we take a look at the ball tampering incidents in the past.
Bancroft caught using yellow object to change the ball's condition
Faf du Plessis during 2016 tour of Australia
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was seen chewing mint and then used his saliva to shine the ball during the 2016 tour of Australia. Faf du Plessis pleaded not guilty to the charges but the match referee fined him 100% of his match fee. He was able to avoid a suspension and responded to these allegations with a hundred in the next match.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi against Australia
In 2010, Shahid Afridi was handed a two-match suspension from T20Is, after he was found guilty of ball-tampering. The incident occured in an ODI between Australia and Pakistan at the WACA. Pakistan eventually lost the ODI by two wickets. Afridi was caught, on TV cameras, chewing on the ball. Afridi pleaded guilty to the charge and later apologised for the incident.
Rahul Dravid against Australia in 2004
Former India captain Rahul Dravid, who is considered a true gentleman, was also been accused of ball-tampering during an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2004. Dravid was fined for rubbing an object on one side of the ball. Dravid denied all allegations but he was fined 50% of his match fee by Clive Lloyd, the match referee.
Waqar Younis against Sri Lanka in 2002
In the year 2002, Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis was charged with ball tampering. The TV cameras showed him lifting the seam off the ball during an ODI against Sri Lanka. The speedster became the first cricketer to be handed a ban for ball tampering. Waqar's partner-in-crime, Azhar Mahmood, who was scraping the ball with his nails, was fined 30% of his match fee.
Sachin Tendulkar against South Africa in 2001
The 'God of Cricket', Sachin Tendulkar was fined 75% of his match fee and suspended from one Test, after match referee Mike Denness alleged that Sachin had tampered with the ball. This incident occured during India's 2001 tour of South Africa. His ban caused widespread outrage and the next match, from which Tendulkar was banned, was deemed "unofficial".
