News: Tait backs Afridi in ball-tampering row

Commenting on the recent ball-tampering issue wherein Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi claimed that every cricketer indulges in tampering, Australian pacer Shaun Tait voiced similar views saying that these cheating tactics are not new to international cricket.

Tait, however, admitted that he hasn’t been an eyewitness to any ball-tampering situation but strongly believed that this practise is often followed during the matches.

"It probably goes on, but I have never seen it with my own eyes. I am sure there could be players that do it, but not that I have seen. I have never engaged in biting the ball,” Tait was quoted as saying by The Herald Sun.

Pakistan's Twenty20 skipper, Afridi, was handed a two match ban following a ball-tampering case involving him against Australia on Sunday. But Tait spoke in support of Afridi who is also Afridi's teammate in Australia’s domestic tournament- the Big Bash.

On the contrary, former Australian skipper Adam Gilchrist said that these cases need to be taken care of and a punishment fixed so that these issues do not come up again.

"I think what we saw on Sunday night in Perth and also in the England and South Africa series is that this is an issue that must be dealt with sooner rather than later," Gilchrist said.

"There is simply too much weight of evidence that it's occurring. I have no doubts that anyone caught should face extremely serious ramifications and punishment. It's up to the players to make the call on this one and say this simply cannot be tolerated," he added.