- India One charged with ball tampering after collision with referee
- One Indian player was notified after incident
The Indian A team has been accused of ball tampering in their match against Australia A in an explosive start to the men’s international summer.
When play resumed on day four in Mackay on Sunday, the Indian players were told by referee Shawn Craig that the ball had been changed because it had been tampered with.
“If you scratch it, we’ll change the ball. No more arguing, let’s play,” Craig could be heard saying over the stump microphone.
India’s wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan was then put on the report by Craig for telling the umpire it was a ‘stupid decision’.
“You will be reported for dissent, that is very inappropriate behavior,” Craig responded.
“Your actions caused us to switch the ball.”
Craig did not specify how he thought India had scratched the ball, and the tourists were not awarded a five-point penalty.
The Indian A team has been accused of ball tampering in the match against Australia A
Ishan Kishan was reported for telling the referee it was a ‘stupid decision’
Kishan is not part of the Indian Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which starts in Perth on November 22.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, all-rounder Nitish Kumar and batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran are the only India A players to be part of the Test squad.
There is no indication at this stage who the referees believe was responsible for the alleged tampering.
Australia were on course to claim victory in the A-match early on day four, with Nathan McSweeney passing the half-century mark in his quest for a Test spot.