Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz was accused of ball-tampering by English batsman Joe Root during the ongoing Test match between the two countries in the UAE but no evidence of wrongdoing was presented, said team sources.
Riaz was apparently accused of tampering the ball during England’s second innings on the fourth day of the second Test match.
But the match referee or other match officials have not asked Riaz for an explanation, nor has any other Pakistani player or official been contacted in this regard, sources in the Pakistan team said.
Riaz was the pick of the bowlers in the first English innings, picking up four crucial wickets to set the match up for Pakistan.
In 2006, Pakistan had forfeited a Test match against England – the first time this had happened in 129 years of Test cricket – after the officiating umpires, Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove, penalised them five runs for ball-tampering.
Inzamamul Haq, then Pakistan’s captain, was punished for his role in Pakistan’s unprecedented forfeit of the fourth Test against England at the south London ground.
Pakistan had twice refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England on Aug 20, 2006.
