• Home
  • Player Stories
  • Otd Inzamam Ul Haqs Pakistan Forfeited Oval Test Over Ball Tampering Allegations

OTD: Inzamam-Ul-Haq's Pakistan Forfeited Oval Test Over Ball-Tampering Allegations

Jatin

Pakistan forfeited Oval Test in 2006 [Source: @PictureSporting/x.com]Pakistan forfeited Oval Test in 2006 [Source: @PictureSporting/x.com]

Cricket fans have seen collapses, comebacks, even ties but on this day on August 20, 2006, the game gave us something unheard of: the first-ever forfeited Test. The Oval Test between England and Pakistan will always be remembered, not for the runs and wickets but for the drama that unfolded when tempers ran hotter than the summer sun.

Pakistan Dominate With The Bat

If you just looked at the scorecard, you would think Pakistan had one hand on the match. After bowling England out for 173, Mohammad Hafeez (95) and Imran Farhat (91) gave Pakistan a flying start, before Mohammad Yousuf piled on a magnificent 128.

Faisal Iqbal chipped in with an unbeaten 58 and the visitors finished with a mammoth 504. England’s bowlers looked toothless with only Steve Harmison’s four wickets offering any resistance.

In the second innings, Kevin Pietersen’s flamboyant 96 and Alastair Cook’s fighting 83 steadied the ship and England were 298/4 but Pakistan still held the upper hand.

The Turning Point

And then came the twist no one saw coming. On Day 4, umpire Darrell Hair penalised Pakistan for alleged ball-tampering, docking them five runs and changing the ball. It was like lighting a matchstick in a dry forest. Pakistan, furious and hurt, stayed back in the dressing room after tea.

By the time Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men decided to walk out again, it was too late. The umpires had already called time and awarded the game to England. For the first time in Test history, a match was forfeited.

Fallout And Endless Debates

The drama didn’t end on the field. Overnight negotiations failed, and the cricketing world was split down the middle. Was Pakistan guilty of tampering or were the umpires too quick to pull the trigger?

The ICC later cleared Pakistan of ball-tampering but handed Inzamam a four-match ODI ban for refusing to continue play.To make matters murkier, the result kept swinging like a pendulum.

In 2008, the ICC changed the result to a draw at PCB’s request. But a year later, after MCC’s recommendation, they reinstated England’s win. It was controversy piled on controversy.

Despite the chaos, the series had its heroes. Mohammad Yousuf was unstoppable as he amassed 631 runs to be named Pakistan’s Player of the Series. Andrew Strauss wasn’t far behind, scoring 444 runs and carrying England’s batting almost single-handedly.

Why ENG vs PAK 2006 Oval Test Is Unforgettable

The Oval 2006 will forever be remembered as the day cricket’s rule book was turned upside down. A Test match with centuries, exceptional spells and quality cricket became a footnote to the bigger headline: MATCH FORFEITED!