England Batter Calls for Legal Ball Tampering in T20 Cricket

Dawid Malan, an England international batter, has suggested that ball tampering should be legalized in T20 cricket to create more competitive and balanced finishes.

Speaking on the BBC Strategic Timeout podcast, Malan argued that ball tampering should be viewed as a technical skill rather than only a disciplinary offense.

“I actually think you should legalise it,” Malan said. “Just let people scratch the ball. Obviously, do not bring things in from outside, but it’s a skill in itself to get the ball to reverse swing.”

He suggested that limited, controlled intervention, without the use of external tools, could be formalized within the rules to allow bowlers to generate reverse swing legally.

The timing of Malan’s comments follows a recent Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) controversy involving Fakhar Zaman, who was sanctioned during a match between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans.

Fakhar was seen on camera examining the ball with Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi before placing his hand over it, after which umpires inspected the ball and ordered it to be changed.

The breach resulted in a five-run penalty for his side and a two-match suspension after a panel upheld the punishment for altering the condition of the ball.

Under current cricket laws, including MCC Law 41.3 and ICC Code of Conduct provisions, any deliberate alteration of the ball beyond standard on-field practices is considered an offense. Players are only allowed to polish the ball using clothing, apply sweat to shine one side, remove mud, and dry it under an umpire’s supervision.

Malan’s proposal reflects the evolving nature of modern T20 cricket, where batters increasingly dominate. He said it would make the game “a lot more bowler-friendly towards the end” and help produce tighter finishes instead of one-sided results.

He emphasized that the final overs are the most challenging phase for bowlers, noting that modern batters can score heavily even from mistimed shots. “The death overs are the hardest to bowl,” he said, adding that any movement in the ball, including reverse swing, can provide a crucial tactical advantage.

Malan also pointed out that attempts to manipulate the ball are not new, stating that players have been caught doing it for years.

Ball tampering remains one of the sport’s most controversial issues, with past incidents leading to significant suspensions and reputational damage, and his comments are likely to add to the ongoing debate about whether current rules still reflect the realities of modern cricket.

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