After the hosts’ victory at Edgbaston, several former Pakistan cricketers suggested that the ball was behaving strangely – with some going as far as accusing the hosts of tampering to achieve reverse swing for what seemed to be only for a short time.

Those allegations were rubbished ahead of the fourth Test at The Oval by England captain Alastair Cook, as well as Pakistan coach Arthur and captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

But a source inside the Pakistan camp has informed Sport360 that a number of players do believe that England tampered with the ball.

“To be honest the ball behaved abnormally after lunch as English bowlers were able to reverse it after just 32 to 34 overs,” one senior Pakistan player told Sport360. “The ball was shiny from one side and totally rough from the other as if it was some 60-70 overs old.

“Nobody was able to achieve reverse swing for four days and even on the fifth day it happened for a short period which was unusual. This suggests that something might have been applied on the ball – maybe Vaseline.

“The team management didn’t lodge an official complaint because we don’t have video evidence but inside we know English bowlers did something to achieve reverse swing and got away with it.”

The player added that had Pakistani bowlers achieved reverse swing like that they would have been heavily questioned by the English media and former cricketers.

The period after lunch on day five proved crucial as Pakistan lost their grip on a match which was heading for a draw – losing four quick-fire wickets for just one run.