Match-fixing allegations ‘Indian propaganda’ to tarnish Pak cricket’s image: Pak Committee

Pakistan National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports has rejected all match-fixing allegations leveled against captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam, saying it was all Indian propaganda to tarnish Pakistan cricket’s image.

The committee, which had summoned Khan and Alam along with the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt to explain the reason behind the team’s defeat in the ICC Champions Trophy, said there was no authenticity in the match-fixing allegations.

It blamed the Indian media for fanning the issue and said it was an Indian propaganda to tarnish Pakistan cricket’s image.

The committee pointed out that that the level of umpiring in the Pakistan New Zealand was poor, and blamed umpire Simon Taufel for Pakistan’s defeat in the match.

The members of the committee decided to report the issue to the International Cricket Council (ICC), by asking it to take appropriate action against Taufel, The Daily Times reports.

It may be noted that Standing Committee’s chairman Jamshed Dasti, had alleged that Pakistan had ‘deliberately’ lost the matches against Australia and New Zealand in the elite eight-nation tournament.

Dasti, however, later retracted, saying he was misunderstood.