Cricket

 

Cricket laws strictly state that any tampering with the original condition of the ball is wrong and unfair.
 

What does Law 42.3 read?

(a) Any fielder may (i) polish the ball provided that no artificial substance is used and that such polishing wastes no time. (ii) remove mud from the ball under the supervision of the umpire. (iii) dry a wet ball on a towel.
(b) It is unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball, use any implement, or take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of the ball, except as permitted in (a) above.

Break the Law & this is what went wrong!

OVERULED!

Dirt in the Pocket-Michael Atherton 1994
In the first Test at Lord's against the South Africans, TV cameras caught the English captain Michael Atherton rubbing dirt on the cricket ball. Atherton later said that he was only trying to dry the ball with the dirt kept in his pocket. The issue created a furore in the press, and Michael Atherton was fined a handsome amount by match referee Peter Burge.

Waqar Younis does a first
In the year 2000, Pakistan's Waqar Younis became the first player to be banned for engaging in ball tampering. It was a game against the South Africans in the Singer Cup series, where Waqar was found tinkering with the cricket ball. The fast bowler was banned for one ODI and 50 percent of his match fee was forfeited. After two months ICC created a law that said that any bowler found tampering the ball would be suspended from bowling in the innings and opposition would be given five extra runs.


Sachin Tendulkar-2001 India's tour to SA
TV footage saw Sachin Tendulkar cleaning the seam of the ball-umpire Mike Dennes accused Sachin of "acting on the match ball". The little master was banned for one Test and the fined 75 percent of his match fee. Later on the ban was revoked and the charges of ball tampering lifted.

Shoaib Akhtar New Zealand v Pakistan, Dambulla, 2003
Shoaib Akhtar was caught scratching the surface of the ball in a One-dayer against the Kiwis in Sri Lanka. The pacer was banned for two one-day internationals and was also fined 75 percent of his match fee.

Rahul Dravid sweetens the ball 2004
In a one-day game against the Zimbabweans in Brisbane Dravid was found rubbing the shiny side of the ball with a lozenge. Match referee Clive Lloyd handed out a 50 percent match fee cut for the Indian batsmen. The referee dismissed any suggestions of Dravid tampering the ball accidentally.