Channel4 have sparked controversy by suggesting that Pakistan may have tampered with the ball during the dramatic English batting collapse on the last day at Old Trafford.

"If the match referee had been watching on television, one wonders what he would have made of those pictures," presenter Mark Nicholas commented, after showing inconclusive pictures of Pakistan captain Waqar Younis with the ball.

The Pakistan camp have strenuously denied the allegations and have pointed out that neither the umpires or match-referee have spoken to them on the matter. "No one spoke to me about the ball," Waqar Younis said.

"If there was any ball tampering I would have known about it," Yawar Saeed, the tour manager said. "There was absolutely nothing wrong. We won the match fair and square and people should be happy with that."

Most people in the game will be saddened to hear that such allegations have been levelled again. The last series between these sides in England was marred by accusations of ball tampering, but the relationship between the England and Pakistan teams has improved greatly in recent months. Attention should really be on the wonderful game the two sides have just contested, and some great last day bowling. No doubt such comments will be derided as further evidence of "whinging poms" from the Australian tourists. They may have a point.

But not about the England team, who have had no complaints after falling victim to the mercurial talents of this Pakistan team.

England captain Alec Stewart has been keen to play down the controversy over no-balls too. Several wickets went down to deliveries that television replays suggest should have been called as the bowler over stepped, but Stewart insisted that it made no difference to the result.

"The fact is Pakistan beat us," he admitted. "With people like Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain they are capable of knocking over sides in a session. Credit to Pakistan."

"I'm not going to start moaning, saying umpires' decisions cost us the game," he continued. "They are there to do a job to the best of their ability. Like batsmen, bowlers, fielders, everyone makes mistakes. As players we take it on the chin and carry on.

"Twenty years ago when the BBC had only two cameras, things like that weren't picked up. Now there's 10, 12, 15 cameras anything and everything can be seen."

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