National Assembly to probe Pakistan cricket

LAHORE: National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Sports has decided to probe Pakistan cricket over the match-fixing issues during the team’s disastrous tour of Australia earlier this year.

Following the inquiry committee report over the Pakistan’s fateful tour of Australia, after which PCB penalised seven cricketers, the NA committee has summoned all the stakeholders who were involved in recommending the punishments. Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt, Chief Operating Officer Wasim Bari, former captain Younus Khan, Rana Navedul Hasan, Aaqib Javed, former coach Intikhab Alam and former manager Abdul Raqeeb were all directed to attend the meeting.

The Senate Standing Committee on Sports, which was due to meet the officials as well, has postponed their meeting. “The meeting is on May 24,” NA committee on Sports’ Chairman Iqbal Muhammad Ali told The Express Tribune. “The agenda, obviously, will be detailing the performance of the team.” The Senate Standing Committee was also probing the match-fixing issue and also asked the International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption and Security Unit for names of individuals they suspected were involved in match-fixing.

The ghost of match-fixing once again appeared to haunt Pakistan cricket when the video footage aired by local television channels showed Alam blaming individuals of throwing matches while questioning Kamran Akmal’s work behind the stumps. Akmal, however, remained undeterred by the allegations and dismissed rumours of wrong-doing. “I am least bothered by these things. I’m clean, have nothing to hide and hence not afraid of anything,” Akmal told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 21st, 2010.