Pakistan's veteran paceman Shaheen Afridi was caught in the act while trying to distort the shape of the ball. The incident occurred during the fourth day of the First Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Pakistan are currently on their tour to Bangladesh for a two-match Test series. The first Test began on the 8th of May, and Bangladesh have been more than promising with the bat while also having maintained a lead from the first innings.
Ball tampering, or attempts to tamper with the red ball, is nothing new in modern-day Test cricket. They have done it a number of times, and several players have been involved in such activities. Australians had to face a massive backlash for such an incident back in 2018, which also involved renowned cricketers David Warner, Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft.
Key Points
- Shaheen Afridi sparked controversy during the Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test after a viral ball-related incident.
- The Pakistan pacer was seen pressing the ball under his spikes during Bangladesh’s second innings.
- The umpire immediately checked the condition of the ball after the incident.
BAN vs PAK Test: Shaheen Afridi ball-tampering controversy
Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi is one of the most experienced players in the current Test squad on their tour to Bangladesh. He had also picked up three wickets after having bowled a long spell during the first innings against Bangladesh.
However, during the second innings of the game, Shaheen Afridi was seen engaging in some unfair conduct. Shaheen was seen pressing the red ball under his shoes, and the spikes could have distorted the shape of the ball.
The umpire also immediately rushed to check on the ball. Also, the umpire searched the ball for any kind of distortion or change in shape; however, he did not find anything discrepant, and then Shaheen Afridi completed his over. Shaheen Afridi then returned with a second spell, dismissing Mominul Haque.
Watch Shaheen Afridi viral video:
Shaheen ball Tempering o bahi ya Lahore Qalunders nahi 😭pic.twitter.com/XdxFGZh69h
— Sarfraz Gilchrist (@SarfrazCT17) May 11, 2026
Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal star on debut; Mohammad Abbas picks a five-fer
Bangladesh openers struggled with their opening partnership, but the three players in that lineup, Mominul Haque, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, and veteran star Mushfiqur Rahim, added runs for Bangladesh, which helped them post 413 runs in the first innings.
The Pakistan batters, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, made their debut for Pakistan and contributed significantly with the bat. While the opener Awais scored a century on debut, Fazal also scored a promising half-century.
Later, Salman Agha's and Mohammad Rizwan's half-centuries helped Pakistan close in on the Bangladesh total; however, they still trailed by 27 runs by the end of their innings. Mohammad Abbas picked a five-fer in the first Bangladeshi innings.
Can Pakistan register its second win in this WTC cycle?
Building on their lead, the Bangladesh skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, once again helped them revive from a failed start. Adding almost a hundred runs alongside Mominul Haque, the Bangladeshis took their lead in the innings past 175 by the end of Day 4.
Pakistan have managed to win one of their two matches in this WTC cycle in the previous home series against South Africa. The team are still in the hunt for some promising away wins in the longest format of the game.
Currently fifth on the WTC points table, Pakistan would look to advance further in the points table, and a win for them can take them ahead of Sri Lanka in the points table. Bangladesh, on the other hand, is yet to win a game in this WTC cycle.
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