1974: Pitch controversy

Pakistan manager Omer Kureishi caused a furore over the condition of the pitch after England's left arm spinner Derek Underwood wrecked Pakistan with figures of 8-51 on a wet pitch at Lord's in the 1974 Test series. Kureishi alleged the pitch, not covered in those days, was not in the same condition as at close on the third day. England, needing 87 to win, were 27-0 when the Test was declared a draw on the fourth day. Pakistan became only the second side, after Don Bradman's 1948 Australians, to complete an England tour undefeated.

1987: Gatting-Rana row

Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana and England captain Mike Gatting were involved in a finger-wagging confrontation before close of play on the second day of the second Test on December 8, 1987. It all happend when Gatting moved his fielder David Capel from behind the batsman's back while Eddie Hemmings was bowling. Rana accused Gatting of cheating and of contravening Law 42, which prohibits fielders from moving behind the batsman's back while the ball is being delivered.

Rana demanded an apology but Gatting refused and no play was possible on the third day. It nearly ended the tour before officials from both sides intervened and Gatting apologised.

Rana, who stood in 15 Tests and 19 one-day internationals, died in 2001.

1992: Ball tampering

Pakistan's new ball pairing of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were accused of ball tampering after the duo wrecked England's batting line-up, sharing 43 wickets between them. The British media accused the "two Ws" of gouging the ball to achieve their devastating reverse swing. During the fourth one-day match at Lord's, umpires Ken Palmer and John Hampshire ordered a change of ball on suspicions of tampering. However, the International Cricket Council refused to release either the ball or the umpires' report to the media.

1996: Court case

The acrimony of the 1992 ball tampering saga continued when English players Ian Botham and Allan Lamb sued former Pakistan captain Imran Khan for saying that illegal ball tampering was common among fast bowlers and that the two were "racist, ill-educated and lacking in class." Khan emerged a 400,000-pound winner and a High Court appeal was dismissed "in the best interests" of the sport.

2000: England win in near darkness

England achieved a remarkable win in near darkness, much to the frustration of the home captain Moin Khan. Pakistan had dominated the first four days of the match as the series was heading for stalemate. But fortunes changed on the last day as England needed 176 to win in a possible 43 overs. Khan, fearing England would go for the target to seal the series, employed delaying tactics which irked the West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor. He frantically complained that his fielders could not see the ball but Bucknor allowed the match to go on until England won by six wickets.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)