BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | England v Pakistan | Tampering allegations are laughable

In his latest column for BBC Sport Online, former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal reflects on a Test series that came right in the end for Pakistan.

I am as delighted as I was disappointed after Lord's - Old Trafford was what Test cricket is all about.

But one can only laugh at the allegations of ball tampering, they just do not make sense.

If Waqar wanted to tamper with the ball, why would he then want to change it and take the new ball?

Pakistan took nearly all the wickets with the new ball at any rate.

The ball is checked by the umpires after virtually every over. Neither umpire has reported it nor has the match referee.

Waqar was doing nothing more than cleaning the ball.

In the past few years there have been so many games finishing in three or three-and-a-half days so it was good to see a Test match go to the final session of the last day.

England only have themselves to blame. Quite simply you should not lose eight wickets in a session in a Test match.

If they had lost the wickets chasing victory if would have been understandable.

Waqar Younis
Waqar has started his captaincy well

England batted in the wrong frame of mind. They did not play with any purpose - I believe they felt the game was secure and they had won the series.

After the start Atherton and Trescothick gave them, I do not think England ever contemplated losing.

It was though a great game and you can only praise the Pakistan team. They just did not give up.

Pakistan played to their full capabilities at Old Trafford. At Lord's they were bad - full stop. They did not bowl, bat or field well.

But given a good surface and good conditions, they played to their best and proved themselves the better side.

At Lord's they lost to the conditions, at Old Trafford the conditions helped them.

Pakistan have a better balanced bowling attack. Their batting was a concern, but it clicked in the second Test where they proved they are a far better side than recent results have shown.

Continuity is the key

The highlight was Inzamam's century. It was one of the best innings I have seen in a Test. He came in when Pakistan were under pressure in both innings and thrived.

His contribution on Saturday evening in the second innings was crucial. It was the most important part of the game - if Pakistan had lost another wicket then I think they would have struggled to win.

The key now for them is continuity. It is so important.

The captain, manager and coach have to stay for a period where they can oversee the youngsters gelling. They need a settled team in charge, like England in fact.

Richard Pybus has made a good start, but it is still too early to really judge him.

Most importantly the players are happy with him.

News image
Winning combination: Waqar and Pybus

They are also happy with Waqar.

He has done wonderfully well and most importantly he has got the team together.

They played very badly at Lord's, but the team stuck together and came back.

But the best thing to come out of the Tests is that all those allegations before the tour about Wasim and Waqar not being on talking terms have gone out the window.

They have shown they are still the best new ball pairing in the world and they got the reward they deserved.

England are going to have to play exceptionally well to challenge Australia.

At Lord's they looked a very good team, but if a team collapses twice on a good pitch in good conditions then you have to look into the batting.

The Australians will think if they can get rid of a couple of players they have a good chance of running through England.