Ball tampering controversy in Dhaka (8 January 1999)

8 January 1999

Ball tampering controversy in Dhaka

By Zahid Newaz in Dhaka

Bangabandhu National Stadium experienced allged ball tampering during of a match between Suryatarun and Brothers' Union in a Premier Division Cricket League match on Wednesday. At the centre of the controversy is former Pakistani national cricketer Aamir Hanif, who plays for local Brothers' Union club.

Tabloid daily Manab Zamin reported that the ball tampering ensued a hot scuffle between Hanif, his club captain Khaled Masud Sujon, also vice captain of Bangladesh national side and the two Sri Lankan umpires, Philip Mendis and Enkevi Gunabardhane.

Apart from ball tampering, the two umpires also brought allegation of chucking and over-stepping against the bowler Hanif, who played five one-day internationals for Pakistan between 1993 and 1995.

The two umpires got suspicious and called no-ball for several times when Aamir Hanif's ball got extra ordinary speed and swing abnormally after the lunch break. Former Bangladesh captain Minhajul Abedin Nannu and Lankan Naveed Newaz were on batting for Suryatarun at that time.

After umpire Gunabardhane noticed the matter umpire Mendis, he called for Hanif and examined the ball. But in an unprecedented example, Hanif threw the ball apparently showing disappointment. Later the two umpires called for the club captain Sujon and they engaged themselves in exchange of hot words.

After the match was over, Sujon told Bangla daily Bhorer Kagoj that the two umpires had accused Hanif of ball tampering. "But, I told them that me and Indian Sanjiv Sharma had got such swing for last two or three matches, including in today," Sujon told the daily adding that umpires didn't raise a question at that time.

After the first day match was over, umpire Mendis told the daily that he had noticed umpire Gunabardhane, who was in front of the wicket at that time, that Hanif's ball were being shown as chucking for which they called for Hanif and Sujon.

Mendis astonished when his attention was drawn that Sujon and Hanif alleged that the umpires had brought allegation of ball doctoring against the latter.

The Manab Zamin daily quoted Amir Hanif as saying that the two umpires were biased to Suryatarun as its batsman, Lankan Naveed Newaz was batting at that time.

Match Referee Ataul Haq Mallik told the Manab Zamin daily that the umpires had asked Hanif about his bowling as extra ordinary swing was being seen during his bowling. "It's their right. Umpires can raise question bowling action of any bowler any time," he added.

Source :: CricInfo365