In a tour that has been over shadowed by spot-fixing allegations, Pakistan's on-field performances improved in the second half of the NatWest series, with Shahid Afridi's men claiming victory in the third and fourth one-dayers.
However, it is controversy that again has taken centre stage, with photographic evidence suggesting that Akhtar attempted to alter the condition of the ball by illegal means.
The allegations are based upon a series of photos released by the Daily Mail, which are said to have been taken in the 41st over of the game. The pictorial evidence suggests that Akhtar ran his thumb along the seam of the ball before dropping it on the ground and standing on it.
If found to be true it will not be the first time that the fast bowler has been involved in a ball-tampering incident. In 2005, also in England, television cameras showed Akhtar flicking the seam of the ball with his thumb. While the 35-year-old was cleared of any wrongdoing on that occasion he was warned by the ICC about his future conduct having faced similar charges during a Test match against Zimbabwe in 2002.
In 2006 Akhtar was banned for two ODIs and fined 75 percent of his match fee after being found guilty of ball-tampering during a one-day match against New Zealand in Sri Lanka.
A spokesman for the ICC declined to comment on the likelihood of any suspicion of ball-tampering, and usual protocol dictates that some mention will have to be made in the match referee's report - which will be received "in due course" - for the ICC to deem any action necessary
