Pakistan stand in captain Shahid Afridi has been caught by TV camera suspect as tampering the ball by biting it with his teeth in the dramatic fifth and final ODI at the WACA Ground in Perth. Regular skipper Mohammad Yousuf had been ruled out from the last one-dayer at the minute to be replaced by Afridi – who could to be sanctioned by the ICC match referee Ranjun Madugalle for one of the more bizarre incidents to have been witnessed in international cricket.
Ball-tampering normally results from fingernails and running the spikes over the ball but Afridi’s distinguished play with the ball would have drawn every one’s attention around the cricketing world and he could be asked to explain his strange intent on putting the entire ball in his mouth – which force umpires to replace the ball straight away.
The dramatic contest was spoiled once again for the second time when a spectator invaded the field of play and tackled Pakistan player Khalid Latif during the 46th over. Latif was unhurt in the incident and laughed it off but it could get serious for the management at the WACA if Cricket Australia and the ICC decide to scrutinize the matter further.
However Australia won the final ODI with and with the remarkable victory completed a 5-0 series sweep on top of a whitewash over the same opponents in the Test series by 3-0. The visitors though were draped throughout their tour but fought hard tardy to defend the moderate target of 212 but Aussies pulled off every thing to reach home with two-wickets in hand.
