A brain-implosion from Pakistan stand-in captain Shahid Afridi could cost him a spell on the sidelines as Australia secured a 5-0 series whitewash with an incident-filled two-wicket victory at the WACA Ground.
Afridi, named captain for the day after Mohammad Yousuf withdrew due to a knee injury, was caught on camera biting the ball with Australia precariously placed at 7-178 and needing 35 more runs for victory off 30 balls to chase down Pakistan’s 212.
Umpires changed the ball straight away and the game was further marred when a ground invader tackled Pakistan fieldsman Khalid Latif to the ground in the 47th over.
Latif was unhurt in the incident and laughed it off but it cast a deep shadow over the match.
It was the second time in the match a spectator invaded the field of play and no less than 16 security guards lined the boundary after Latif was brought to the ground.
Mike Hussey (40 not out off 46 balls), Nathan Hauritz (18 off 20 balls) and Ryan Harris (two not out) ensured Australia got over the line with four balls and two wickets to spare after Ricky Ponting’s 55 set up the innings.
But it was Afridi’s bizarre biting incident that had everyone talking.
Afridi, who claimed 2-31 from his 10 overs, was banned for one Test and two one-dayers in 2005 for scraping his boots on the pitch in a Test against England and could now face a hefty suspension for ball tampering.
Set a modest 213 for victory, Australia were cruising at 3-122 in the 32nd over before a collapse of 3-28, which included the wicket of Ponting and Adam Voges (24), catapulted Pakistan back into the contest.
But Hussey, Mitchell Johnson (13) and Hauritz did enough to hold off Pakistan’s charge.
Australia needed just one run off the last four balls and secured the win when Harris was caught off a no-ball from Rao Iftikhar.
Hussey’s latest knock took his series aggregate to 220 runs at an average of 73.
Pakistan collapsed to 3-16 in the ninth order after winning the toss and electing to bat before face-saving half-centuries from Umar Akmal (67 off 102 balls) and Fawad Alam (63 off 70) helped lift the visitors to somewhat of a respectable total, with Alam last man out in the 50th over.
In-form speedster Harris, buoyed by consecutive man-of-the-match awards, again haunted Pakistan with figures of 3-44 while Clint McKay (4-35) was also clinical.
Recalled speedster Johnson, playing his first game of the series, bowled with great pace and gusto to claim 2-42, striking tail-ender Iftikhar in the head with a vicious bouncer in the process.
Johnson, who regularly bowled in excess of 150km/h, added a run-out to his name in an impressive return to action.
Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke and paceman Peter Siddle were ruled out of the match due to back complaints, with Johnson and Voges called in.
McKay was named man of the match while Harris was man of the series for his 13 wickets in three games.
McKay said he didn’t see the Afridi incident but was disgusted by the ground invader.
“I thought it was disgraceful,” McKay said.
“Something you don’t want to see ever.
“For someone to go out there and to touch one of their players is not on.
“Hopefully it all gets put to bed and he gets a right whack.
“It’s not something you want to happen.
“It’s probably the worst thing that can happen on a cricket field … so hopefully it gets stamped out and we don’t see it again.”
Timmuh
Roar Guru
That's a fair point. Afridi has been hit with the biggest sentence the ICC can hand out for such an offence, what will happen with the WACA is still up for debate and not getting much media coverage. Perhaps a ban on alcohol in bays near the fence? Day games only?
Photon
Guest
You gotta love Australia, a opposition player gets assualted by a spectator and the big story is how Afridi bit the ball. god forbid something like that happens to an Aussie in Joburg or Delhi, I can just see Ricky jumping up and down saying the tour is off, so much for objective journalism
AndyS
Guest
Given his "but everyone does it" defense, I'm almost surprised that he didn't claim to have mistaken the ball for an apple. And banned for two T20 matches - well then, that's him taught! Still, at least he hasn't called the decision racist...
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Yeh, I am surprised more hasn't been made of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRtzgQ57S_8&NR=1
whiteline
Guest
Panther - yes, a woeful summer, featuring the biggest joke in world cricket (Pakistan) supported by one not far behind in the Windies. In regards to referring to Afridi's actions as a 'brain snap' - I think you guys are being a little too kind. Since when does one eat a cricket ball?
prowling panther
Roar Rookie
brilliant -the one man that may have lit up the T20 game on Friday is suspended (sarcasm strongly intended). What a wreck the Pakistan team are. I hear chanderpaul and sarwan are ruled out for the Windies series too. A truly forgettable summer
Fisher Price
Guest
The ICC is a joke.
Fisher Price
Guest
You remember what exactly? Something akin to Ponting rubbing his gum-infected saliva on the ball?
Brett McKay
Expert
Afridi has copped a two T20I match ban, meaning he misses Friday night, plus their first match in Dubai in an upcoming series against an opponent who escapes me. He was charged against the very law Michael Slater read out during the commentary last night (Altering the ball), and the charged carried the hefty ban of one Test, or two ODIs, or two T20Is.. I agree with Justin and Conks, he should have had the book thrown at him. Compare this slap on the wrist with the hoo-ha that eventuated when Darrell Hair awarded The Oval Test to England in 2006. Hair cited the very same law...
Hazey the Bear
Roar Rookie
Bizarre is an understatement. In regards to Jay's response - Yes there is a discrepancy between batting and bowling advantages, but I don't think allowing ball tampering of this sort should be considered an acceptable "equalizer".
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
It's not the first time Afridi has tried blatant cheating. A few years ago in a Test match he purposely scruffed up the pitch on a good length with his spikes during the drinks break. It seems like he's the sort of guy who has brain snaps. He's quoted as saying that 'everyone takes part in ball tampering' and he knew it was wrong but he was trying to win the game for his team. The ICC needs to be harsher with penalties for this. I remember the English using lollies in 2005 to get severe swing. Did they even get punished for that? Pakistan now have major captaincy issues. Who will captain the Twenty20? And what will the PCB do into the future....
Jay
Guest
let them do it i say - the so called balance between bat and ball has favoured the batsmen for far too long..
Mr
Guest
Can't believe that clown who tackled Latif. It's a scary thing. Hope he has the book thrown at him.
drewster
Roar Pro
Strange to say the least, Maybe he's found a new way to polish the ball or just has a leather fetish.
RickG
Roar Rookie
It's hard to fathom what he thought he was doing, and how he was going to get away with it. If he does something that blatant without seeming to care I hate to think what he's getting up to behind the scenes.
Justin
Guest
I saw Afridi bite the ball live last night and was absolutely staggered. He should be banned for 6 months. Blatant cheating.