Fixing claims outrageous: Sethi
Interim PCB chairman insists on in-depth investigation by ICC.
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s cricket chief yesterday termed fixing allegations over the team’s One-Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies as ‘outrageous’, adding his board had insisted on a full investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
British newspaper The Mail on Sunday had reported the series was under investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of world cricket’s governing body with experts identifying suspicious betting patterns.
“Concerns have been raised, in particular, around the tied third match of the series played in St Lucia a week ago on Friday, as well as the final game, which resulted in a last-ball win for Pakistan on Thursday,” the paper reported.
The West Indies, chasing 230, tied the third match after needing 24 in the last two overs with the last pair of Kemar Roach and Jason Holder at the crease.
The probe will also look at betting patterns in the final game, in which West Indies scored just one run from the first 18 balls, according to the report.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) interim chairman Najam Sethi hit out at the allegations.
“These are outrageous claims and we have been in touch with the ICC and insist on an investigation,” said Sethi.
“The team manager confirmed that the ICC’s ACSU team was there in the Caribbean. How much truth is there in this, only time will tell but at the moment this is not more than a story by The Mail. We have written to the ICC as to how an ECB official gave comments on the report and what right he had to say that.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2013.
Pakistan’s cricket chief yesterday termed fixing allegations over the team’s One-Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies as ‘outrageous’, adding his board had insisted on a full investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
British newspaper The Mail on Sunday had reported the series was under investigation by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of world cricket’s governing body with experts identifying suspicious betting patterns.
“Concerns have been raised, in particular, around the tied third match of the series played in St Lucia a week ago on Friday, as well as the final game, which resulted in a last-ball win for Pakistan on Thursday,” the paper reported.
The West Indies, chasing 230, tied the third match after needing 24 in the last two overs with the last pair of Kemar Roach and Jason Holder at the crease.
The probe will also look at betting patterns in the final game, in which West Indies scored just one run from the first 18 balls, according to the report.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) interim chairman Najam Sethi hit out at the allegations.
“These are outrageous claims and we have been in touch with the ICC and insist on an investigation,” said Sethi.
“The team manager confirmed that the ICC’s ACSU team was there in the Caribbean. How much truth is there in this, only time will tell but at the moment this is not more than a story by The Mail. We have written to the ICC as to how an ECB official gave comments on the report and what right he had to say that.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2013.