Arthur denies making fixing claims

Mickey Arthur, the former South Africa coach, has replied to the legal notice sent to him by the PCB last week, denying that he ever accused the Pakistan side of match-fixing.

The Pakistan board sent the notice last Monday asking Arthur to "unconditionally and publicly retract" statements he had made suggesting that the final ODI between Pakistan and South Africa in the 2007-08 series had "a strong suspicion of match-fixing" around it. The board asked for an "unqualified and unconditional apology" and for a proposal for paying them a "substantial sum" in damages.

Arthur's comments, the board concluded, had been made to boost sales of his forthcoming autobiography, which is set to include similar claims. The board asked specifically for a written undertaking that Arthur's autobiography will not contain similar statements against the side.

"Arthur has requested us to read his book," a board official told ESPNcricinfo. "We will decide further legal action after examining his book."