The thrilling conclusion of the fifth Test between India and England at The Oval has been marred by allegations of ball-tampering leveled against the Indian team by former Pakistani cricketer Shabbir Ahmed. The accusations center around the condition of the ball, with Ahmed suggesting that India used Vaseline to maintain its shine, leading to excessive swing, even after 80 overs.

Ahmed voiced his concerns on social media platform X, calling for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to examine the ball in a laboratory. He questioned how the ball could retain its shine so late in the game, implying that an external substance like Vaseline must have been applied. According to the Laws of Cricket, polishing the ball is permitted using natural substances like saliva or sweat, but the use of artificial substances such as Vaseline constitutes ball tampering.

The context of these allegations arises from India's remarkable six-run victory, which leveled the series 2-2. India's bowlers, particularly Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, were instrumental in the win, exploiting reverse swing with the older ball to dismantle England's batting lineup on the final day. Siraj's match-winning performance earned him the Player of the Match award and a significant jump in the ICC Test Bowler Rankings. Krishna also climbed the rankings after picking up eight wickets in the Test.

India's decision to persist with the old ball, even when the option for a new ball was available, raised eyebrows. This strategy proved successful as the reverse swing generated by the old ball played a crucial role in India's victory.

This isn't the first instance of Pakistani cricketers accusing the Indian team of ball-tampering. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, Hasan Raza alleged that India was using a "different ball," and in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Inzamam-ul-Haq accused Arshdeep Singh of altering the ball. These allegations have often surfaced without concrete evidence.

Despite the seriousness of the claims, no official complaint has been filed, and there is currently no evidence to support Ahmed's allegations. The cricketing world awaits further developments to determine whether match officials will investigate the matter or if the claim will remain unsubstantiated.