Gul claims he saw Anderson tamper with ball

[Tiger80]

KARACHI: Pakistan speedster Umar Gul is set to kick up a storm as he has claimed that he saw English pacer James Anderson tamper with the ball last year during a Test match. The seasoned pacer, who is tipped to make a comeback to the national side for the coming series against Sri Lanka, said ball-tampering was not new in international cricket and it was being done through legal and illegal methods by many bowlers and teams. "I saw Anderson do it last year when we went to England. Then in the Ashes series Stuart Broad was seen roughing up the ball with his boots. All these methods are part and parcel of the game to obtain reverse swing with the old ball," Gul said. "Most of the bowlers tamper with the ball in international cricket," he added. Gul's comments that are likely to ignite a new debate came when reporters asked him about the remarks made by Shoaib Akhtar in his controversial autobiography recently released in India. The retired fast bowler, in his book, has admitted to ball-tampering and claims it is common in Pakistan's domestic cricket. Shoaib has called on the ICC to legalise ball-tampering. Gul said if Shoaib was saying he tampered with the ball he must have done it. "I can't say much on that but yes many bowlers do it. When you use finger nails to scratch the ball it is illegal but when the fielders keep on throwing the ball on rough and dry pitches or the ball hits the advertising boards and sponsors signs, it is not illegal," he said. Gul said whether the ball was roughed up legally or illegally it remained an art to obtain reverse swing with it. "Obtaining reverse swing is an art and must be recognized as one." But Gul didn't agree with Shoaib's suggestion to legalise ball tampering insisting this would spoil the beauty of the game. "It should not be legalised because laws can't be changed on this and it should remain an art." Gul, who has taken 125 Test, 134 ODI and 47 wickets in T20 cricket, said Pakistani bowlers had always been accused of ball-tampering and it was nothing new. "But in the past no match official has come up with any evidence against us nor has any camera caught us. This talk about ball tampering is not new to us. But reverse swing is something that comes naturally to us and it is an art passed down from generation to generation," he explained. Ball-tampering allegations have always surrounded the Pakistani bowlers and in 2000 match referee John Reid banned and fined Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood for tampering with the ball in Sri Lanka. In 2010 in Australia, former captain Shahid Afridi was also banned by the ICC when he was caught on camera chewing the ball. Shoaib Akhtar has also been penalised for ball tampering. The pacer also spoke on Shoaib's disparaging remarks against batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar. "I can't say specifically that I saw Tendulkar running away from Shoaib but no one can deny that when Shoaib was at his fastest and best the world's best batsmen were nervous against him and there is no batsmen who is not nervous or ruffled when facing a pure fast bowler. "Even Brian Lara who I rate as the world's best batsman admitted to feeling ruffled when he was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Shoaib," Gul said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Gul-claims-he-saw-Anderson-tamper-with-ball/articleshow/10204548.cms

[kubrickian]

I think its time we stop paying attention to these Paki jokers.

[b555]

I think its time we stop paying attention to these Paki jokers.

this.

[achilles]

Nothing new. English tamper the ball all the time and get away with it. Trescothick mentioned in his autobiography that he was the "mint guy" of his team. Also, who can forget the blatant attempts of cheating of Broad in South Africa?

[Stuge]

everybody does that what so new about it. art of what ??? art of ball tempering without being watched by 100 cameras? or he meant to art of ball eating ?

[saneindian]

Why do the cameras have to catch paki bowlers when they themselves admit they tampered with the ball? And who are these *****holes to call someone else a cheat without any proof?

[Spiderguy252]

These Pakis are a disgrace to humankind. Why can't they leave us and the rest of the world alone, relocate to Jupiter and blow up the place if they want to? Losers.

[saneindian]

ECB must be regretting the help it extended to the PCB last summer. These paki losers don't deserve any sympathy from anyone. Hope Anderson drags this idiot to court and makes him fork out a fortune.

[Number]

If you've Kaptaan saahab Afridi who speaks first and thinks about it next year , then what to expect from these players.

[ganeshran]

The best thing the cricketing world can do is to stop paying attention to this daily nonsense being dished out by Pakistani players.

[Sachinism]

We always hear from Paki bowlers that everyone does it, yet they're the only ones who keep making themselves look like fools

[Spiderguy252]

They're basically the orphans of world cricket. Beduins, nomads. Never stable at all - the country, the cricket team, the people. They not only continually screw themselves up, but mock other countries as well, pathetic losers. And lol, they consider folks like Afretard as legends? Mohammad Hafeez as their best batsman? Good grief.

[TheWall]

somebody pour some feviquick into the mouth of these paki jokers...

[El_Pipita]

Thier is alot of Racism in this forum and its horrible to read it. Hey im not Pakistani ( thats how it should be said) but atleast i know paki is a racist word and its not nice. Please Respect, dont offend.

[Cricket_Guru]

Thier is alot of Racism in this forum and its horrible to read it. Hey im not Pakistani ( thats how it should be said) but atleast i know paki is a racist word and its not nice. Please Respect' date=' dont offend.[/quote'] and ironic thing is, my indian friend in my town get more offended then me if some one calls them a paki. :giggle:

[bulbul]

Is Paki a racist word..i always thought its a short term for Pakistan. Anyone from Pak called Paki....or else we have to call them Pakan...wont sounds good...

[Yoda-esque]

Gul claims he saw Anderson tampering. Afridi claims he saw Sachins feet shaking. Afridi claims the larger hearts. Shoaib claims he saw Tendulkar afraid. Afridi claims he was smelling the ball. With the number of claims that these guys are making,their insurance companies must be bankrupt by now.

[daryl1985]

Is Paki a racist word..i always thought its a short term for Pakistan. Anyone from Pak called Paki....or else we have to call them Pakan...wont sounds good...

In England, racist ppl refer to anyone from the subcontinent as Pakis. That is why some term it racist. I don't think it is used in a racist sense here.

[ganeshran]

Thier is alot of Racism in this forum and its horrible to read it. Hey im not Pakistani ( thats how it should be said) but atleast i know paki is a racist word and its not nice. Please Respect' date=' dont offend.[/quote'] Its used in uk as a racist jibe, around here its just a short for Pakistani.

[El_Pipita]

I think its time we stop paying attention to these Paki jokers.

Why do the cameras have to catch paki bowlers when they themselves admit they tampered with the ball? And who are these *****holes to call someone else a cheat without any proof?

These Pakis are a disgrace to humankind. Why can't they leave us and the rest of the world alone' date=' relocate to Jupiter and blow up the place if they want to? Losers.[/quote']