London, August 20:

The fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan was plunged into controversy on Sunday in an ugly row over ball-tampering. The tourists risked forfeiting the Test after making a tea-time protest over being docked five runs for allegedly altering the state of the ball. But just as it had seemed the match was about to restart,

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said a fresh delay had been caused by the refusal of umpire Darrell Hair to continue standing in the match.

Pakistan were docked five runs at the end of the fourth day’s 56th over which had been bowled by paceman Umar Gul. It was Gul’s 14th over with England 230-3 when the umpires inspected the match ball. Play was eventually called off for the day with England 298-4 in their second innings, a deficit of 33, with the future of the match still uncertain.

The controversy began when veteran Australian official Hair, standing with West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove, signalled

to the scorers that five penalty runs were to be added to England’s total, taking it up to 235.

Then, after an early tea had been taken because of bad light, the umpires walked back out onto the field only for no Pakistan fieldsmen to follow behind them before walking back in. Some 15 minutes later the umpires returned followed by England batsmen Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell only for the Pakistan team to remain in their dressing room.

The batsmen and umpires walked back in, with Pakistan — already a losing 2-0 down in the series — in danger of forfeiting the match. Both umpires removed the bails, returned to the pavilion and the covers came on. Pakistan then appeared on the field but there were neither stumps in the pitch nor umpires. After several minutes without either Hair or Doctrove, or the England batsmen, Pakistan walked back off. This was the first time such a five-run penalty for ball-tampering had been imposed in Test cricket.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND — 1st Innings: 173

PAKISTAN — 1st Innings: 504

ENGLAND — 2nd Innings (overnight: 78-1)

A Strauss lbw b Kaneria 54

A Cook lbw b Gul 83

K Pietersen c Akmal b Nazir 96

P Collingwood not out 26

I Bell not out 9

Extras: 26 (9b, 2lb, 10nb, 5 pen)

Total: 298/4

FoW: 1-8, 2-115, 3-218, 4-277

Pakistan bowling: Asif 17-1-79-1,

Gul 14-1-70-1, Hafeez 4-1-13-0,

Kaneria 29-6-94-1, Nazir 8-1-27-1