Ball Tampering in Cricket: Recently, ball tampering was in discussion in PSL 2026. Well, this word is not new in cricket. Its history is old. So far, 16 incidents of ball tampering have taken place and names of 16 players have come to light. There were some players who were seen repeating the act of ball tampering. The big thing is that among the 16 players involved in the ball tampering incident, there is one name who has scored not just one, 10 or 100 but 142 centuries in professional cricket. Now the question is who are those 16 players who have been associated with the ball tampering incident.
The newest name in ball tampering
The latest name associated with ball tampering is Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman. Fakhar Zaman has been banned for 2 matches in PSL 2026 for ball tampering. This match was being played in Lahore. However, he had denied his crime in the first hearing before the match referee, after which he was banned after the second hearing. Before the Fakhar Zaman incident that happened this year, ball tampering in cricket had happened 7 years ago. Then the name of Nicholas Pooran of West Indies came up in the match played in Lucknow.
Earthquake came in 2018, these players were stranded
The incidents of ball tampering that happened twice in 2018 created a stir in cricket. The most famous incident in this took place in the Test match against South Africa in Cape Town, in which the names of 3 Australian players – Steve Smith, David Warner and Bancroft were revealed. At the same time, the name of Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka also appeared in the match played against West Indies in St. Lucia in the same year.
Faf du Plessis accused twice
In 2017, Dasun Shanka of Sri Lanka was accused of ball tampering against India in Nagpur, while in the match played in Hobart in 2016, the name of Faf du Plessis of South Africa came up. Faf du Plessis’s name has also been involved in ball tampering in the match played in Dubai in 2013. In 2014, South Africa’s B Wayne Philander’s name was linked to the ball tampering incident. That match was being played in Galle.
From Shahid Afridi to Inzamam Ul Haq
In 2010, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi was found guilty of ball tampering. In 2006, another Pakistani cricketer Inzamam ul Haq’s name was also linked to the ball tampering incident in a match played at the Oval. However, later the charge against him was withdrawn.
The person who scored 142 centuries is also named in ball tampering.
It is surprising that even Rahul Dravid has not been able to escape the charge of ball tampering in cricket. He was accused of this in a match played in Brisbane in 2004. Rahul Dravid is the second Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to face allegations of ball tampering. Sachin has been accused of ball tampering in the match played in Port Elizabeth in 2001. Sachin Tendulkar is the only player among 16 players who has 142 centuries in professional cricket. He has scored 80 centuries in first class cricket, 61 centuries in List A and 1 century in T20.
Shoaib Akhtar trapped twice in a row
Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar became a victim of ball tampering twice in a row in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, he was accused of ball tampering in a match played in Harare and in 2003 in a match played in Dambulla. Apart from them, Pakistan’s Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood have also been accused of ball tampering in the match played in Colombo in 2000.
Who was first accused of ball tampering?
The first cricketer to become a victim of ball tampering was England’s Mike Earthton. He was accused of this in the match played at Lord’s in 1994.