Pakistani MP alleges team underperformed on purpose

The head of Pakistan's national parliamentary committee on sports has accused the team of deliberately losing to Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy in a group match and has called for changes in the national cricket board. He has also said he would summon the board chief and captain before parliament.

"There is evidence that the team lost the match to Australia on purpose," Jamshed Khan Dasti said. "It underperformed. Then against New Zealand also there are signs the team didn't want to win.

"We have been told by some respected and senior people and we are also trying to collect evidence that there might have been some hanky panky in the match against Australia and New Zealand."

Pakistan lost to Australia off the final ball of the match after setting them a target of 206. In the semi-final, they lost to New Zealand after setting them a target of 234. However some dodgy umpiring decisions cost them in their innings - Umar Akmal was given out lbw for 55 though replays showed the ball hit the pads off a thick inside edge.

Younis said he was bitterly disappointed with the Champions Trophy exit as he had wanted to gift his country the trophy that had been shifted from Pakistan to South Africa because of security concerns. He said there were many reasons for the team's defeat to New Zealand, including his dropped catch, missed run-outs and poor umpiring but that finishing in the top four was a positive sign.

ICC sources, meanwhile, told Cricinfo that its Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) is yet to conclude investigations about the games in question involving Pakistan. However, it's understood that the unit has not done anything extraordinary (on the games in question) other than the normal set of procedures meant for every game.