Ball Tampering Allegations Hit India: Siraj and Prasidh Under Fire, ICC Asked to Send Ball for Lab Test

India's thrilling six-run victory over England in the final Test at The Oval has sparked fresh controversy, with former Pakistan fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed accusing Indian players of ball tampering. After India leveled the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2, Ahmed urged that the ball used on Days 4 and 5 swung unusually and should be sent for laboratory examination. His allegations mainly pointed to Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who played a big role in bowling out England on the final day.

Indian Seamers Shine with Old Ball

On Day 5, Siraj used the 80-over-old ball to swing deliveries both ways. Prasidh Krishna also got the ball to move, though not as much as Siraj. Despite having the option to take a new ball, captain Shubman Gill chose to continue with the old one. This decision worked in India’s favor.

Siraj bowled smartly by mixing deliveries swinging some away and others into the right-handers. He removed Jamie Smith with a perfect out-swinger and trapped Jamie Overton with one that cut back sharply. Krishna, on the other end, kept tight control and even though DRS saved Josh Tongue once, he got him out soon after with a brilliant delivery that hit the stumps.

Both fast bowlers delivered many threatening balls throughout the day, taking advantage of the helpful pitch and cloudy weather. Their combined effort helped India claim England’s last seven wickets for just 66 runs.

Shabbir Ahmed’s Allegation Sparks Debate

Despite India’s incredible bowling display, Shabbir Ahmed was not convinced it was pure skill. He accused the Indian bowlers of using Vaseline on the ball to keep it shiny even after 80 overs. He dismissed the role of conditions and pitch behavior and instead suggested cheating. His exact words on social media were:
"I think India used Vaseline. After 80+ overs, the ball still looked new. Umpires should send it to a lab for testing."

Shabbir, who represented Pakistan in 10 Test matches and 3 ODIs, has made similar remarks in the past. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, when Indian pacers like Shami, Bumrah, and Siraj swung the ball more than others, former player Hasan Raza had claimed that India was given a special ball by the ICC.

Previous Accusations Resurface

This isn’t the first time Indian bowlers have been targeted with ball-tampering claims. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India won, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq accused Arshdeep Singh of tampering with the ball. Back then, Mohammad Shami had strongly responded to the allegations and defended India’s performance. These repeated claims have raised eyebrows among cricket fans and experts. While India’s seamers have been praised by many for their smart use of conditions and skillful bowling, some voices continue to question their methods without proof. At the time of writing, there has been no official response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding Shabbir Ahmed’s demand for lab examination of the ball used in the fifth Test.