Thaindian News

Karachi/Melbourne, May 20 (IANS) A Parliamentary committee Thursday summoned top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to probe the allegations of match-fixing in the Sydney Test against Australia earlier this year.

“The (parliamentary) standing committee on sports has summoned PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, Australian tour coach Intikhab Alam, former captain Younus Khan and other officials on Monday,” the committee said in a statement.

The officials were summoned a day after video footage of a PCB meeting was leaked to the media and it showed players and former officials raising suspicions about match-fixing during the Australia tour. The video of their evidence was leaked to Pakistan television Wednesday.

In the video, Alam and Javed told a PCB inquiry they thought bookmakers might have been involved in the events, and also questioned wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal’s commitment. Aaqib also had suspicions about the performance of fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan in a Twenty20 match in Australia.

Akmal dropped Australian batsman Michael Hussey three times and missed an easy run-out, with Hussey going on to accumulate 138 runs (not out) in the second innings. Pakistan, chasing a modest 175 to win, lost the Test by 36 runs despite leading by 206 runs after the first innings.

The PCB took strict measures after the team’s return from Australia. Seven players, including former captains Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik, were banned and fined by the board on the recommendation of an inquiry committee.

Yousuf and Younis were banned for an “indefinite” period for “infighting”, while Malik and Rana were banned for one year. Shahid Afridi and Akmal were fined Rs.3 million each while Umar Akmal was fined Rs.2 million.

PCB said it had banned and fined the players for “infighting and breach of discipline”, and ruled out match-fixing.

But Alam raised suspicions at the PCB inquiry about Akmal’s performance in Sydney.

“I was flabbergasted when Kamran missed that run-out. The batsman was far from the crease and the ball was in Kamran’s hands but he missed the chance. I have serious doubts and have heard stories about match-fixing,” Alam said in his statement.

Javed also raised suspicions of match-fixing.

“I have reservations over the way he (Kamran Akmal) missed the run-out. When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it. How he could miss such a big run-out? I can’t say 100 per cent that there is match-fixing, but I have my strong suspicions,” Javed said in his statement.

Pakistan’s Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi also raised doubts.

“If you watch all the matches we have played recently, we have not been beaten in the matches, we have given away those matches. I think the reason is that we are not mentally strong. We had decided in our heads that we cannot beat Australia even before the match had started,” said Afridi.

When asked if the defeat was ‘intentional’, Afridi said: “I have heard from others that such things (match fixings) exist, but I do not know of any such player myself.”

Kamran Akmal in his statement denied any wrongdoing.

“I got the ball but was totally blind and couldn’t run out the batsman,” said Kamran.

A Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman said Wednesday night he had heard nothing about match-fixing allegations. “Our view on that match has always been that we won it through our own efforts,” he said.

A former Test player told The Australian daily he had suspicions about the match, but like a lot of similar events in cricket, it would be nearly impossible to prove.

Pakistan had a 206-run lead after the first innings and bookmakers placed Australia’s odds at $11 as the visitors reached 1-50 in the last innings, chasing a victory total of 175. Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for 89 runs and with it the match by 36 runs.