{
  "id": 20188654,
  "title": "Wasim Akram ‘politely’ suggests Australian bowlers knew about sandpaper tampering",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/wasim-akram-politely-suggests-australian-bowlers-knew-about-sandpaper",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-15T14:22:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40449029/wasim-akram-politely-suggests-australian-bowlers-knew-about-sandpaper-tampering"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Renowned Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram has commented on the ongoing debate about Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandal, asserting that an experienced bowler would instantly recognize if a cricket ball had been tampered with using sandpaper. In a video posted on his social media, Akram stated that he believed the Australian bowlers would have noticed the difference between typical ball wear and scratches caused by sandpaper. \"As a bowler, when the cricket ball comes into my hand, whether it’s the fifth over, the 10th over or the 50th over, I look after the ball and shine one side,\" he explained. Akram elaborated that bowlers occasionally use the pitch to create minor scratches on the ball, especially in dry conditions, but emphasized that the marks left by sandpaper are distinct. \"The sandpaper scratch is totally different from the one-bounce scratch,\" he noted, suggesting that anyone acquainted with cricket would be able to differentiate between the two. Akram made it clear that he was not taking sides in the dispute; his comments were his personal opinion. He also commended Australians for their reputation for honesty and expressed hope that the controversy would be resolved. \"I’ll have a look at the ball and I’ll know straight away something is not right,\" he concluded, referring to the perspective of an experienced bowler. In response to Akram's remarks, English broadcaster and journalist Piers Morgan posted on X that Wasim Akram was effectively suggesting that the Australian bowlers were aware the ball had been tampered with. \"This is Wasim’s very polite way of saying the Aussie bowlers all knew the ball had been sandpapered. They should stop lying and tell the truth,\" Morgan wrote.",
  "summary": "Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has weighed in on the renewed controversy surrounding Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal, saying an experienced bowler would immediately notice if a cricket ball had been altered using sandpaper. In a video posted on his social media account, Akram said he believed the Australian bowlers could have noticed the difference between normal ball wear and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}