BBC SPORT | Cricket | Pakistan fights false charges

The Pakistan Cricket Board is planning action against those who make unsubstantiated claims of match-fixing against international players.

"The PCB and its legal adviser will consult the Law Ministry and evolve a system through which we can take all those accusers to task who fail to provide any proof," PCB chairman Tauqir Zia said.

"With two inquiries we have buried the match-fixing controversy in Pakistan and now we won't tolerate any attempt to malign Pakistan cricket."

Pakistan last month published the findings of a judicial inquiry into allegations of match-fixing against Pakistani players in the 1999 World Cup in England.

Pakistan draws line under 'fixing' saga

Zia said the commission had directed that any accuser without proof should be taken to court in future, and said that would not be limited to Pakistan.

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"We would also take action against any publication abroad if they level any allegations without any proof, even if we have to file a suit abroad," he went on.

Former captain Majid Khan, fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz and former South African cricket board head Ali Bacher alleged Pakistan fixed games in the 1999 World Cup.

PCB chairman Tauqir Zia
Zia has vowed to get tough on false accusations
The Pakistani pair could not provide proof of their allegations, while declined to testify before the commission.

The commission was the second convened in Pakistan since Australian trio Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged that Pakistan's Salim Malik offered them bribes to under-perform in 1994-95.

Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum's inquiry in 1998 and '99 saw former captain Salim Malik and all-rounder Ata-ur-Rehman banned for life.

Six others, including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, were fined.

And Qayyum concluded that, while there was insufficient evidence to ban Wasim, he should not be regarded as above suspicion.


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