BBC SPORT | Cricket | World Cup inquiry clears Pakistan

Pakistan's players have been cleared of any wrongdoing during the 1999 World Cup in England following a judicial inquiry into allegations of match-fixing.

The government commissioned Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari of the Lahore High Court to carry out an investigation last year.

It followed claims by Dr Ali Bacher, former chief of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, that he had been informed that Pakistan's games against Bangladesh and India had been fixed.

Pakistan were beaten on both occasions, but went on to reach the final of the competition, only to suffer a heavy defeat by Australia.

But the judge's 21-page report, which Pakistan Cricket Board officials will submit to next week's International Cricket Council meeting in London, concludes there is nothing to substantiate the claims.

India's Anil Kumble takes a wicket
Pakistan's defeat by India was also investigated

"PCB has made the Bhandari commission report public, which has absolved all the players and the team from all match-fixing charges during Pakistan's defeats against Bangladesh and India in the World Cup held in England in 1999.

"In its findings the commission has cleared the Pakistan team of match-fixing charges during the World Cup and the commission has said it does not require to take any action against the players," said a PCB statement.

Star witnesses

During the course of the four-month inquiry, more than 50 witnesses were questioned, including World Cup captain Wasim Akram and many of his teammates, together with cricket officials, bookmakers and journalists.

Former Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Majid Khan and ex-fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz told the inquiry there was substance to the allegations, but they were flatly denied by everyone connected with the team.

The report describes the testimony of Sarfraz and Majid about the Bangladesh game as "opinion".

Bacher is now in charge of planning the 2003 World Cup
Bacher declined to travel to Pakistan

It adds: "They are former cricketers of repute and their analysis is entitled to respect, but in order to hold that the match was fixed and, therefore, to condemn the players, the Commission required incriminatory evidence, which is completely lacking."

As far as the India match is concerned, the report again states there is "no credible evidence on the file".

The judge goes on: "Unlike Bangladesh, India is a stronger side, which has produced some outstanding cricketers over the years. Both the teams have been winning and losing matches against each other."

Bacher was sent numerous invitations to travel to Pakistan to give evidence, but he never appeared.

It was the second match-fixing inquiry carried out in Pakistan, following Justice Qayyum's report two years ago which resulted in life bans for former captain Salim Malik and seam bowler Ata-ur-Rehman.

Four members of the current Pakistan team - Wasim, skipper Waqar Younis and batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar - were fined as a result of the Qayyum inivestigation.


	Links to more Cricket stories