'Proteas too resorted to ball-tampering'

Woolmer was coach when the incident is alleged to have taken place during an ODI in 1997.

Pakistan may have the dubious record of being involved in most of the ball-tampering scandals so far but a former match referee has sensationally disclosed that South Africa too resorted to such methods during Bob Woolmer's stint as coach.

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Woolmer, the current Pakistan coach who has been in the news following the ball tampering row in the fourth Test against England, was the South African coach when the tampering incident is alleged to have taken place during a limited-overs match against India in 1997.

The latest disclosure about ball tampering by former Australia Test captain and Match Referee Barry Jarman could shake the concept of fair play in the gentlemen's game.

Jarman has brought out a severely tampered ball which he claimed was used by the South African team during that match.

"The ball is only 16 overs old, yet one side has been tampered with and you can see where they have run their thumbnails down the seam which opens up," Jarman, who had kept it a secret before producing the ball in his possession till date, was quoted as saying by the 'Courier Mail' today.

During the match, Jarman claimed that he noticed the ball was being scratched by a couple of fielders, who later lifted their shirts and rubbed sweat into one side of the ball for making it a bit out of shape resulting in a different kind of swing.