Top 5 Most Shocking Ball-Tampering Scandals in Cricket History

2. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) vs South Africa: 2000

Former Pakistan pace spearhead Waqar Younis became the first cricketer to face a ban for ball-tampering, marking a significant moment in the sport’s disciplinary history. The incident occurred during a triangular ODI series in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan were up against the South African national cricket team. 

Waqar was found guilty of altering the condition of the ball, leading to strict action from match officials. As part of the penalty, he was removed from the field during the game and fined 50% of his match fee. The episode proved to be a turning point, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to adopt a firmer stance on ball-tampering, setting the tone for stricter enforcement of the rules in the years that followed.