Pak match fixing probe: final warning to scribes

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 10. A one-man inquiry commission of Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari issued third and final warning notices to sports scribes at Lahore High Court on Saturday.

The Bhandari commission is investigating whether Pakistan's two 1999 World Cup matches against Bangladesh and India were fixed or not.

The court, while adjourning the hearing till Nov. 17, directed sports reporters to ensure their appearance otherwise the court will issue their arrest warrants.

Former captain Wasim Akram, who led Pakistan in the World Cup, has also been asked to record his statement next Saturday.

Bhandari asked Pakistan Cricket Board's legal adviser Asghar Haider to produce record of cricketers against whom any inquiries were in process.

However, Lt. Col. Iftikhar from National Accountability Bureau informed the judge that no inquiry was pending against any cricketer with the NAB.

Pakistan's former Test umpire Javed Akhtar, who gave 10 leg before decisions (eight against South Africa) during the Test match between the Porteas and England in 1998 was also present in the court. However, he would be cross-examined during the next hearing.

Justice Bhandari reportedly held a meeting with the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit in Sharjah last week.

Bhandari was invited by the Anti-Corruption Unit for a detailed discussion on match-fixing related issues. Bhandari is working independently on the match-fixing inquiry against Pakistan players during the 1999 World Cup matches and the Pakistan Cricket Board has nothing to do with the inquiry process.

The commission is still waiting a response from Dr. Ali Bacher, former Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa. Bacher was asked to come and share any information he might have on Pakistan's defeat at the hands of India and Bangladesh during the World Cup. Bacher is yet to respond to commission's request.

``We do feel that Dr. Bacher, who made the allegations initially is a material witness and should give his statement before the commission,'' said an official of the PCB.

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