Updated at: 0030 PST, Sunday, September 19, 2010
 KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board Saturday rejected as "sensationalism" new allegations of spot-fixing against its national team, which is under investigation for incidents during last month's Test at Lord's.
The PCB also said it "regrets" that the International Cricket Council had appointed an inquiry into the latest allegations, involving Friday's third one-day international against England which Pakistan won by 23 runs.
"PCB condemns sensationalizing of these allegations which are harming cricket in general and Pakistan in particular," the board said in a statement.
The ICC said the latest probe was based on information provided by British tabloid newspaper The Sun, which had suggested "a certain scoring pattern" would emerge in Pakistan's innings at The Oval, as arranged with bookmakers.
"Following information received by the ICC from a British newspaper and its source, the ICC now believes a full investigation is warranted," an ICC statement read.
The new claims come three weeks after police raided the Pakistan team's hotel in London after another tabloid, News of the World, reported players took money to deliberately bowl no-balls during the Lord's Test against England.
On the basis of that report, the ICC provisionally suspended Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir.
The three have all been questioned by police over the alleged plot to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Test series while a fourth -- seamer Wahab Riaz -- was interviewed by authorities on Tuesday. All deny any wrongdoing.
On Friday, Scotland Yard detectives announced that an initial file detailing evidence of alleged corruption had been forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who will decide whether to proceed with the case.
The PCB said the latest allegations were "sensationalism" and that it was "extremely perturbed by the recent allegations of corruption in the third one-day match between England and Pakistan."
The PCB also accused the ICC of mishandling the latest incident, saying that, despite its being a full member of the ICC, it had learnt only through media reports that the council would conduct an inquiry.
"PCB feels that ICC should repose more confidence in its members," the PCB's statement said.
"The ICC has been requested by PCB through its counsel to furnish more details into these allegations," it added.
"PCB maintains a zero tolerance approach towards corruption and will continue to provide all assistance in the investigations."
Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi said the latest allegations were meant to "put pressure on the team.
"If someone has proof, bring them forward, but I think these allegations are aimed to put pressure on Pakistan," Afridi told a Pakistani television channel. |
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