Former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has questioned Australian captain Pat Cummins’ claim that he was unaware of the infamous ball-tampering scandal during the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa.
Cummins recently rejected allegations made by former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, who claimed that the entire Australian team, including Cummins, was aware of and involved in planning the ball-tampering incident.
He also dismissed Khawaja’s claim that his ethnic background and skin colour had prevented him from becoming Australia’s captain. Reacting to Cummins’ statement, Akram said experienced bowlers could easily identify whether a cricket ball had been deliberately tampered with.
“My friend Pat Cummins says he didn’t know about it. Perhaps the team wasn’t aware of what was happening at the time. This is just my opinion; it could be right or wrong,” Akram said. The former Pakistan captain explained that natural scratches caused by friction or the ball hitting the ground are different from marks left by sandpaper.
“As a bowler, you take care of the ball. Scratches can appear on one side due to friction or bouncing, but scratches caused by sandpaper are entirely different. As an experienced bowler, the moment you hold the ball, you can tell if something is wrong with it,” he added. Akram also expressed hope that the controversy would eventually be resolved.
The ball-tampering scandal dates back to March 2018, when Australian opener Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to alter the ball’s condition with sandpaper during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. Following the incident, Cricket Australia handed one-year bans to then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
The controversy has resurfaced following the publication of Khawaja’s autobiography, in which he claimed that all members of the Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plan. He also alleged that his ethnic background and skin colour had affected his chances of being appointed national captain. Former Australian opener David Warner has backed Khawaja’s account, describing his claims as 100 per cent accurate.
