England play down Riaz, Root exchange

England coach Trevor Bayliss spoke with match referee Andy Pycroft on day four of the second Test against Pakistan after it appeared Wahab Riaz deliberately trod on the ball during the fourth day of the second Test on Sunday.

The incident took place during England's second innings with Joe Root getting involved in a heated argument with Riaz at a drinks break, with replays only indicating the Pakistan quick had toe-poked the ball along the ground. 

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Bayliss later met with ICC match referee Pycroft, though Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam said he was unaware of the exchange between the players despite the incident later being reported as possible ball tampering.

"I am not aware of any such report or incident," Alam told AFP. "Riaz was not summoned by the match referee so there is no issue on that."

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England assistant coach Paul Farbrace played down the issue.

"In the heat of battle you are going to see the odd exchange between players," Farbrace said after the day's play. "Riaz certainly won't be signing for Chelsea in the Premier League with his footballing skills. 

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"The umpires dealt with it at the time and that is the end of it."

England, chasing a daunting 491-run target, were 3-130 at close with Root batting on a fighting 59 and Jonny Bairstow on six.

Pakistan need seven wickets on Monday's final day to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.