‘Don’t embarrass us with cheating claims’

Controversy surfaced after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori admitted he had raised concerns with match officials over the amount of reverse swing Gul was getting off the ball during the two sides Super Eights game over the weekend at the Brit Oval.

Gul tore through the New Zealand batting line to reach figures of 5-6 as Pakistan cruised to a six wicket win.

Younis denied claims of cheating, saying Gul’s action was an acquired “art”.

“Everyone has his own opinion, especially when you get out cheaply and lose a game like that because New Zealand have a big reputation in world cricket,” said Younis. “But for reverse swing you need pace and a good action, and Gul has a good action. It is an art, it is not cheating, and Umar knows the art, especially in Twenty20s. In every single game he performs like that.”

The controversy has added significance given Pakistan’s last ball tampering row at the same ground in August 2006.

Then captain Inzamam-ul-Haq refused to lead his team out on the field during a Test match with England after umpire Darrell Hair docked Pakistan five runs over alleged ball tampering.

Khan said there seemed to be a recurring theme of being accused of cheating every time Pakistan played in England.

“We are not cheating, but today was very embarrassing,” said Younis.

“All the time the umpires were checking the ball, and there are plenty of cameras, so how could we cheat? It’s not good. And every time it is happening in England. Why? “We have good actions and we have pace. So don’t disrupt a boy like Umar Gul, he has a good reputation.

“And don’t embarrass a team like Pakistan, we already have a lot of controversies in the whole world, and we are suffering a lot of things. Forget these things and focus on the game. Let the cameras catch it if anything is happening with the ball. In this game a lot of sixes are hit, and the ball goes in the crowd, and hits the concrete.”