Younus Khan has hit out at the level of scrutiny Pakistan were subjected to on Monday.
Captain has slammed the way his side were treated by the umpires
Younus Khan has hit out at the level of scrutiny Pakistan were subjected to on Monday in the aftermath of recent ball-tampering allegations.
New Zealand made an informal complaint to the match officials after Pakistan seamer Umar Gul claimed five for six during Saturday's emphatic triumph at The Oval, but they reported nothing untoward had happened to the ball.
But according to Younus, it did not stop umpires Rudi Koertzen and Rod Tucker examining the ball regularly as Pakistan cruised into the semi-finals with a 39-run victory over Ireland at The Oval.
"We're not cheating and today was very embarrassing with the umpires checking the ball all the time," said Younus. "Sometimes it is very embarrassing because there are a lot of cameras so how can we cheat?"
History
Saturday's controversy follows just three years after Pakistan refused to continue the final Test against England at the same ground because umpire Darrell Hair had also accused them of ball-tampering.
Pakistan were cleared of any ball-tampering following an ICC hearing, but on their first return to English soil the controversy has raged once again.
"Why does this happen all the time in England?" asked Younus. "Don't talk about a bowler like Umar Gul because he has a good reputation. Why is it always about Pakistan?
"I think we should forget about this thing and just focus on the game. There are a lot of cameras so why didn't the cameras catch us doing something?
"In this cricket there are a lot of sixes and the ball goes into the crowd a lot so the ball changes like that. It is an art actually, it's not cheating."
Victory ensured Pakistan's progress to the semi-finals, but they must wait for Tuesday's encounter between Sri Lanka and New Zealand to determine whether they top the group and play in Thursday's first semi-final in Nottingham or the second semi-final at The Oval the following day.
