Ball-tampering claims emerge from Bangladesh's NCL 2nd XI final

Serious ball-tampering allegations have emerged from Bangladesh's inaugural NCL 2nd XI competition final, held at Purbachal on November 13, 2026. Dhaka Division Second XI beat Khulna Division Second XI by an innings and 35 runs in the title match, but the result has since been overshadowed by claims that players used Vaseline to illegally alter the condition of the ball.

An official from Dhaka Division Second XI, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the alleged practice to a cricket news outlet. The official described how players concealed the substance between their fingers to make detection virtually impossible, saying:

"Yes yes. The players do it (use Vaseline to tamper the ball). They use the Vaseline in between their fingers so it becomes virtually impossible to trace who did it," an official said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

How does Vaseline allegedly affect the ball?

According to the Dhaka Division official, the substance changes the ball's physical behaviour once airborne. Coating the ball with Vaseline increases its weight beyond normal, disrupting its natural trajectory and creating conditions that assist reverse swing.

"This (using Vaseline) makes the ball heavier and the ball does not move through the air like it should, which makes the ball reverse. That helps the ball to skid as well as reverse," said the official.

The official further noted that Vaseline is particularly hard to detect on the field because it carries no smell and has no flavour, leaving umpires with no reliable sensory test during routine inspection. However, several individuals connected with the NCL had raised the matter verbally with officials on multiple occasions. Despite being informed repeatedly, umpires failed to act, and sources say that inaction has contributed to an increased use of Vaseline across Bangladesh's domestic cricket circuit.

What action has the BCB taken so far?

As of November 14, 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board's umpires committee had not received any official complaint regarding the alleged tampering in the NCL 2nd XI final. Without a formal complaint on record, no disciplinary process has been initiated against any player or team involved.

The Dhaka Division official described the specific method reportedly used by Khulna Division Second XI players, explaining how the substance was transferred to the ball through hair and hands.

"This is really hard to trace. Maybe you have to put a camera on everyone. The Khulna team was doing it a lot as they were putting the Vaseline in their hairs and then rubbing it on the ball while they were also using it in their hands and whenever they grab the ball it gets on the ball," said the official.

The allegations have drawn comparisons to broader global ball-tampering controversies, including the Sandpaper-gate episode involving Australia. Whether the BCB will launch a formal investigation or introduce enhanced detection measures at future domestic tournaments remains unresolved.