Cricket South Africa concerned with repeated ball-tampering allegations

Vernon Philander was the second South African to get punished for ball tampering in last two years

The South African Cricket Board is said to be deeply concerned with the repeated incidents of ball tampering by their players and sent out a strong message against the same in their annual general meeting last Saturday, reports supersports.com.

Advocate Vusi Pikoli, chairman of the ethics sub-committee, has reiterated the fact that such occurrences damage their reputation in the international arena.

“The committee wishes to raise its deep concern [at] the recent reports and allegations of ball-tampering. The committee takes a very dim view of these reports and wishes to send out a strong message that such behaviour cannot be tolerated. Such conduct damages our fragile reputation,” Pikoli was quoted as saying.

While batsman Faf du Plessis was fined 50% of his match-fee for rubbing the ball too close to his trouser zippers in a Test against Pakistan in UAE in 2013, pacer Vernon Philander was recently caught on camera when he used his nails to damage the shine of the ball against Sri Lanka at Galle. The seamer was charged with 75 per cent of his match fee and the issue even created some strained relationship between the two boards when the broadcasters were restricted from showing the footage in the live telecast.

The incident was eventually relayed on the final day of the Test which South Africa won after Dale Steyn used the ‘tampered’ ball to devastating effect to claim 5/50 on a flat pitch.

"It's not about what others do, it's about our reputation, and we urge our lads to take this matter very seriously," Pikoli further said in his report to the AGM.

It has to be noted that both the players admitted to their misbehaviour and accepted the penalties.

Another incidents saw David Warner accusing AB de Villiers of rubbing the ball with his wicket-keeping gloves at Port Elizabeth earlier this year. The Australian was fined 15% of his match fee for making public accusations against an opponent after losing, for which he later apologized.