PCB questions ICC’s inconsistent ball-tampering penalty

Najam Sethi, the chairman of the interim management committee running the PCB, said on Sunday that the Pakistan board wants clarification from the ICC on the “inconsistency” in the application of the ball-tampering rule. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi was banned for two Twenty20s in early 2010 for a ball-tampering offence that was loosely similar to the one involving Faf du Plessis in Dubai, for which du Plessis has been fined 50% of his match fees.

Ball-tampering, which is a level two offence, comes with a fine of 50 to 100% of the match fee, and/or a ban of one Test or two limited-overs games whichever happens 1st.

Afridi had pleaded guilty to ball-tampering during an Australia-Pakistan ODI, in which he was captaining in January 2010. He was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC code of conduct which relates to “changing the condition of the ball in breach of law 42.3 of the laws of cricket”. Afridi was seen on television apparently biting the ball on a couple of occasions. Afridi was called into a hearing with the match referee Ranjan Madugalle immediately after the match, where he apologised for his actions.

Du Plessis pleaded guilty to the charge of ball-tampering during the 2nd test, and was just fined 50% of his match fee by match referee David Boon. In du Plessis’ case, the incident occurred following television visuals of du Plessis rubbing the ball near the zipper of his trouser pocket.

Pakistan captain Misbah, speaking after the Test, refrained from commenting on the issue.He said that It had nothing to do with them and it’s between the match officials and their team.He said that it was none of their business.