BBC Sport Online: Cricket

Pakistan protest over Waqar ban

Younis was banned for one game for lifting the seam off the ball during the Singer Cup one-day series in Sri Lanka.

He is the first player to be banned for the offence and the Pakistan cricket authorities feel he has been harshly treated.

"I think (match referee) John Reid has been a bit biased against Pakistan and we will certainly take up this matter with the ICC," said Yawar Saeed, Pakistan Cricket Board's director of operations.

Fine

Younis was fined half of his match fee for his actions and Pakistani captain Moin Khan and all-rounder Azhar Mahmood were also hauled up by the tournament referee for similar offences.

"I will talk to the PCB Chairman General Tauqir Zia in Sri Lanka and if he also thinks Reid is biased in his decision we will record our views with the ICC," Saeed said.

Pakistan objected to Reid's posting as match referee in the home series against Sri Lanka last March and had him replaced but Saeed conceded: "We can't object to his appointment all the time."

According to a statement released on Reid's behalf by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, Mahmood was fined 30% of his fees and Moin severely reprimanded for "allowing the spirit of the game to be impaired".

Laws

Reid said the players had contravened the laws and spirit of the game after both Waqar and Mahmood were caught on television tampering with the ball.

Waqar received a heavier penalty than Mahmood because he had been warned for a similar offence by Reid during the third Test against Sri Lanka at Kandy last week.

The one-match ban meant Pakistan were without their most experienced bowler for the key match against Sri Lanka on Sunday.