newsandheadlines_pcbwillnotactafterinquiryrevealslackofevidence

PCB will not act after inquiry reveals lack of evidence
Bloomberg - 7 March 2002

The Pakistan Cricket Board recommended no action be taken following a judicial inquiry into allegations of match-fixing at the 1999 World Cup in England, PCB Chairman General Tauqir Zia said.

The report by Justice Karamat Bhandari of the Lahore High Court is now with the government, which will make the final decision whether to punish anyone.

The six-month inquiry examined Pakistan's World Cup defeats to Bangladesh and India and the performance of Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar in a 1998 Test match between England and South Africa in England. Pakistan's first match-fixing inquiry resulted in former captain Salim Malik getting a life ban.

"There is nothing in the report due to the absence of sufficient evidence," Zia said. "It's full of allegations with no evidence."

A key witness, Dr. Ali Bacher, declined to testify, he said, while the Anti-Corruption Unit - set up by cricket's overall ruling body to investigate match-fixing - did not offer evidence.

Former Pakistan captain Majid Khan and his ex-teammate Sarfraz Nawaz were among witnesses who made the allegations.

Current players appearing at the inquiry included Wasim Akram, captain at the World Cup, Saeed Anwar, Moin Khan, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq. The report may be made public in the next week, Zia said.

Malik is among nine players banned for match-fixing or related offenses in the past two years. Majid said he anticipated the latest report because players are unwilling to testify against teammates.

"If there is to be no action it doesn't surprise me," Majid said. "I didn't think anyone would give hard evidence after what happened in the last inquiry."