England bowler Liam Plunkett has been exonerated of tampering with the ball during the second ODI against Pakistan.
A short clip from Saturday’s match at the Ageas Bowl attracted the attention of Twitter users, with the 34-year-old seen rubbing his fingers along the surface of the Kookaburra ball.
The player himself is understood to have raised the issue after becoming aware of it and was cleared by umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel, in accordance with match referee Richie Richardson.
A short ICC statement read: “The ICC has confirmed that the match officials are comfortable there was no attempt by Liam Plunkett to change the condition of the ball or any evidence of this on the over-by-over examinations of the ball throughout Saturday’s ODI clash in Southampton.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board declined to comment but is understood to be content that Plunkett has no case to answer.
Errr....What's going on here? Did Liam Plunkett just scratch the ball with his finger nails? Please investigate this @ICC @TheRealPCB @ECB_cricket #PAKvENG #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/2kDqhX5AsF
— Waqas Ahmed (@ahmedwaqas92) May 12, 2019
