Sources close to the Indian team said skipper Azharuddin has made a mention of ball tampering in his match report to match referee Cammie Smith.

It is learnt some Indian players had brought it to the notice of the umpires during the two Test matches. Indian-make Duke balls were used during the two-match Friendship series.

The `Duke' balls are susceptible to tampering which facilitates the `reverse swing'. Pakistani bowlers like Waqar Younis and skipper Wasim Akram are known exponents of this `art'.

Interestingly, for the inaugural Asian Test championship, only the Australian-make Kookaburra balls are being used, ostensibly for the sake of `uniformity'. Unlike the Indian balls, Kookaburras are reputed to retain the shine for a longer period.