PCB chief dismisses allegations of match-fixing

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PCB chief dismisses allegations of match-fixing

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt on Sunday dismissed allegations of match-fixing against the national team players.

Ijaz Butt added that if any of his subordinates raises the issue of match-fixing, "he is talking nonsense.''''

In a leaked video recording of an inquiry committee hearing, Pakistan team coaches Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed raised suspicions about the performance of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal during the winless tour of Australia earlier this year.

Intikhab Alam said that he was flabbergasted when Kamran Akmal missed a run out of Shane Watson in the Sydney test and later came across suggestions of match-fixing.

However, Butt said the International Cricket Council''s Anti-Corruption Unit has instigated strict security measures for all international matches.

�Nobody is allowed to enter into players'' dressing room, only the manager carries a mobile phone with him during international matches and there are several other security measures which they take,'''' Butt said.

�It''s (match-fixing) all media hype and nothing else.''''

Butt said former captain Younis Khan''s career was ruined by false match-fixing allegations when a parliamentarian accused Pakistan of throwing the semifinal of the Champions Trophy in South Africa last year.

The PCB fined and suspended seven cricketers _ including Younis on an inquiry committee recommendation for a lack of discipline and poor performance during the tour of Australia.

Butt said he approved all the fines and suspensions. Six players have since appealed against suspensions and fines.

The PCB chief said that arbitrator Irfan Qadir will submit his report to the cricket board''s governing board, which will take the final decision.

�Let the appeals be completed and I will not comment until we get the final report from the arbitrator,'''' Butt said.

[Mohammad Sajid]

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