Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis was axed from the Singer Cup one-day international against Sri Lanka yesterday for tampering with the ball, becoming the first cricketer to be banned for this offence.

Waqar was handed a one-match suspension and fined 50 per cent of his match fee for lifting the seam off the ball during Saturday's game against South Africa. Two other Pakistani players, captain Moin Khan and all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, were also hauled up by tournament referee John Reid of New Zealand in connection with the same offence.

In a statement released on Reid's behalf by the Sri Lankan cricket board, Mahmood was fined 30 per cent of his fees and Khan severely reprimanded for "allowing the spirit of the game to be impaired".

Reid said the players had contravened the laws and spirit of the game after both Younis and Mahmood were caught on television tampering with the ball.

Younis received a heavier penalty than Mahmood because had been warned for a similar offence by Reid during the third Test against Sri Lanka at Kandy last week.

Younis and his long-time new-ball partner Wasim Akram were accused by the British media in 1992 of tampering with the ball, but no official action was taken then.

Former England captain Michael Atherton was fined in 1994 by his own team management for the "dirt in the pocket" affair during a Test match against South Africa at Lord's.