Sports - Woolmer says cricket laws should be reviewed

LONDON, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer wants the cricket laws changed so that players can use their fingernails to alter the state of the ball.

Pakistan was accused of ball-tampering in the fourth and final test against England on Aug. 20 that led to the first forfeit in 129 years of test cricket.

Woolmer said reverse swing is critical in maintaining cricket's balance between bat and ball.

''I think the ball should swing and it doesn't really matter how _ as long as you are not using external implements, like razor blades or bottle tops,'' Woolmer said Friday. ''Fingers, sweat and everything else mean the ball should swing. Otherwise, it becomes totally a batsman's game.''

Woolmer says fingernails should also be permitted.

''Nails are part of the body,'' he said. ''You need to get this into a proper perspective and discuss it at length. If you can encourage the ball to swing that, I think, is good for the game of cricket. It is good for the art of the game of cricket.''

Pakistan plays England on Saturday at Lord's in the second of five one-day internationals. The first one-dayer at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday was declared a no-result because of rain delays.Woolmer said the International Cricket Council had to look at its laws and alter the description of ball-tampering and how umpires adjudicate on it.

''It needs to be looked at in terms of how you approach the fact that you think the ball is being tampered with,'' Woolmer said. ''I think if it had been treated a little bit differently, being a bit more at ease with players, that would help. I think that law needs to be rewritten.''

On the fourth day of the final test at The Oval, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove ruled that Pakistan illegally interfered with the ball and imposed a five-run penalty. The visitors protested by not playing after the tea break and the umpires deemed that Pakistan had forfeited the match.

The incident took a twist when Hair subsequently made an offer to the ICC to retire in return for US$500,000 (euro390,000) as compensation.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been charged with ball-tampering and for bringing the game into disrepute for leading the boycott. He will face a hearing before the end of September.