My players did not cheat - Woolmer

14 April 2012

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has defended his team against any accusations of cheating following the abandonment of the fourth Test against England.

Pakistan forfeited the match at The Oval on Sunday after refusing to return to the field in protest at umpires' claims the ball had been tampered with.

"I think there was a genuine feeling that, by inference, we had been cheating," Woolmer told Sky Sports. "I personally asked every member of the team, under oath basically, whether they had at any time scratched the ball during the innings, and to a man they said no."

He added: "I went to ask to see the ball. I looked at the ball and came to my own conclusions.

"It had been hit into the stands on numerous occasions by Kevin Pietersen. I didn't think there were any undue marks, but that is a personal opinion.

"Having asked my team I can concur with them there was probably just damage from concrete and whatever."

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