ICC rejects PCB concerns on Faf`s ball-tampering punishment

Karachi: The ICC has dismissed the Pakistan Cricket Board`s allegation that leniency was shown in handing out punishment to South African player Faf du Plessis after he was found guilty of ball-tampering during the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai.

A PCB source revealed that the ICC had defended the decision of match referee David Boon to fine du Plessis 50 per cent of his match fees by quoting relevant laws and reminding that the changes in the clauses dealing with ball-tampering had been amended after approval of all member boards. The PCB had expressed concern that the Boon adopted a lenient attitude in the whole incident and had questioned the difference in the severity of punishments handed out to Plessis and Pakistan`s all-rounder Shahid Afridi when he was caught tampering with the ball during a one-day international in Perth in 2010. Afridi was banned for two Twenty20 matches and fined. "The PCB also raised the point in its letter to the ICC that other South African players were also caught on camera trying to deliberately change the condition of the ball," the source said. "The ICC has basically defended the match referee`s ruling and said he acted under the law and they considered the matter closed. Obviously the PCB is not satisfied with the reply from the ICC and want something done about it," he added. A PCB official confirmed the ICC had sent them a reply but declined to give any further details about the letter`s content. Pakistan`s former captain Rashid Latif said it was clear the ICC referees dealt with Pakistani players differently while handing out penalties. "They (the PCB) can`t do anything alone that is clear they need support of other boards even if they want existing laws reviewed again," Latif said.