Crickey: TCCB deny ball cover-up

THE Test and County Cricket Board refused yesterday to react to further allegations from Don Oslear that they had been party to a cover-up of ball-tampering during the Texaco international between England and Pakistan at Lord's in August 1992, writes Derek Hodgson.

Oslear, who was the reserve umpire that day, alleged yesterday that a statement agreeing that the ball had been changed because of tampering had been watered down at the Pakistanis' insistence with the full knowledge of TCCB officials.

Although no longer on the umpires' list Oslear is under contract to submit any articles for publication to the Board for a further two years. As he is also promising further revelations in a book there may now be a legal battle over publication.

The TCCB chief executive, Alan Smith, according to Oslear one of the men involved in the cover-up, said yesterday: 'There is nothing we can add to what was said last week,' referring to the court case involving Sarfraz Nawaz and Allan Lamb.