Islamabad: Former Pakistan player Shahid Afridi revealed about the pitch tampering incident in the Faisalabad Test against England in 2005. Afridi revealed that he had asked his teammate Shuaib Malik about this and his reply was to do it.
In 2005, Afridi was banned from one Test and two ODIs by the match referee for tampering with the pitch during the England-Pakistan Test. Afridi later apologized in this regard. In 2010, he was banned for two T20Is for ball-snagging during an ODI against Australia in Perth.
“It was a good series. That test was in Faisalabad. A test where the ball does not get turn or swing. The match was quite boring. I used all my strength but nothing was happening. Suddenly a gas cylinder explodes. With that, everyone’s attention shifted. Then, I told Malik who was nearby that I wanted to turn the ball and felt like cracking the pitch for that. No one is watching, Malik told him to do it. And so I did it.” – Afridi revealed in an interview granted to Sama TV. Afridi also stated that he now realizes that it was wrong.