Cricketer-turned-television commentator Sanjay Manjrekar says tampering with a cricket ball can be done without being caught on any of the numerous television cameras shooting the on-field action.
"I don't agree that no ball tampering can take place with so many TV cameras focusing on the match. It's still possible," the former Indian Test star said during a panel discussion in Mumbai on Thursday.
"A cricketer will immediately realise with one look at a ball whether it has been tampered with," he said, when the discussion veered around to the controversial Oval Test between England and Pakistan, which resulted in cricket's first-ever forfeiture.
However, Manjrekar clarified that his comments should not be mixed with the Oval Test.
"I don't say that had happened in the Oval match. There were two mistakes which led to the sorry ending. Number one was Hair's action. He's a fine umpire who is a bit robotic in his approach to the laws of the game. He could have handled the situation in a better way.
"The other mistake was committed by Pakistan. Inzamam should have been pulled out of the dressing room by the administrative manager of the team and if he was still reluctant, vice-captain Younis Khan should have been told to lead out the team," the former batsman said.
"It nearly happened to Sunil Gavaskar in Australia, but we had a fantastic manager in Wing Commander Durrani, who prevented Chetan Chauhan from leaving the field along with Gavaskar," Manjrekar recalled.
