PCB asks Bacher to substantiate charges

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19. Pakistan has asked the Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, Dr. Ali Bacher, to substantiate his allegations in a Pakistani court of law that two 1999 World Cup matches were fixed.

A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Tuesday that Pakistan raised the issue of Bacher's allegations during the International Cricket Council's meeting in London on Tuesday.

Bacher had alleged during the King Commission's inquiry in South Africa that Pakistan's two World Cup matches in England were fixed. The PCB's stance is that since it was Bacher who alleged that two World Cup matches involving Pakistan were fixed, he should come to Pakistan and give evidence in support of his allegations, the source said.

Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia, chairman of the PCB, represented Pakistan in the ICC executive board meeting. Pakistan appointed Justice Keramat Nazir Bhandari late last month as a one-man commission to investigate Bacher's allegations into the World Cup matches, involving Pakistan-Bangladesh and Pakistan-India. Justice Bhandari, who has been given two months to complete his inquiry, would also investigate into Bacher's allegations that umpire Javed Akhtar was approached by a bookmaker during a Test match between England and South Africa in 1998 when Akhtar gave nine leg before decisions.

In another development, both the Pakistan and Indian cricket boards have reached an agreement on the proposed quadrangular tournament featuring Pakistan, India, West Indies and Zimbabwe in March. While Pakistan would host five matches (including the final), India would host four matches.

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Section  : Sport
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