SYDNEY: Pakistani fast bowler Irfan Junior has been found guilty of ball tampering in Australia, according to Australian media reports. He has been handed a five-match ban following the incident.
Cricket Victoria’s tribunal confirmed the punishment after finding Irfan Junior guilty of altering the condition of the ball during a Victoria Premier League match.
Irfan Junior has previously represented multiple franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
A few years ago, he moved to Australia, where he began playing for a local cricket club before becoming eligible to participate in domestic cricket tournaments.
Ball tampering has been one of the most controversial issues in cricket, involving several high-profile players over the years.
It refers to the illegal alteration of the ball’s condition to gain an unfair advantage, such as changing its swing or movement.
One of the most infamous incidents occurred in 2018, when Australian cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were caught using sandpaper to alter the ball during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town.
The scandal led to severe backlash, resulting in year-long bans for Smith and Warner, and a nine-month suspension for Bancroft.
Earlier, in 2006, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi was banned for two matches after biting the ball during a Test against England to influence its movement.
Similarly, England’s Mike Atherton was fined in 1994 for using dirt from his pocket on the ball.
Other cricketers like Faf du Plessis (South Africa) and James Anderson (England) have also faced accusations of ball tampering at different times.
These incidents highlight the ongoing struggle between competitive tactics and fair play, pushing the International Cricket Council (ICC) to tighten rules and introduce stricter penalties to preserve the integrity of the game.
