Anger at fixing accusations

Inzamam-ul-Haq and Rahul Dravid reacted sharply when journalists at a press conference asked them about suggestions that the fourth one-day international at Lahore was fixed.

And rightly so. At the end of four hard-fought matches, the mere suggestion of foul play was enough to raise their blood pressure. Both are both known around the cricket world for their honesty and unstinting dedication to performing at their best.

So, it came as no surprise that Rameez Raja, the chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and Shaharyar Khan, the chairman, went on the front foot. "This series has witnessed outstanding cricket from both sides," said Rameez. "A finger has been pointed at the purity of the game. It's the worst we can do to this historic series. We must be careful not to send out wrong signals. Let's not dilute the intensity and sanctity of this series. As it is both the teams and the captains are under pressure. Let us not spoil the show by making such statements."

While it is obvious to most people that the matches in this series have been hard-fought and genuine, there are still sceptics. Many journalists subscribe to the "no smoke without fire" theory, and this is especially so in many of Pakistan's newspapers, which make allegations without furnishing proof and attribute all manner of libellous statements to unnamed sources. Rickshaw drivers in every city claim they know the result of games in advance. People on the street happily blur the boundaries between goodwill and giving quarters in games.

Dravid made two telling comments after scoring a characteristically determined 76 not out to take India to victory. "I've always looked upon it [this series] as another cricket match. No more and no less. Every game is there to be won or lost." He takes his cricket as seriously as anyone ever has, and this statement should be accepted with the weight of several years of performing at the highest level.

In the crunch game, no quarter was given, and certainly none asked. Dravid said of the match that levelled the series and set up an exhilarating finale, "We know they'll be hurting in the dressing-room. They will look at it as an opportunity lost and feel that they should have wrapped up the series here itself." Teams that perform at less than 100% in order to ensure that a forthcoming match is a sellout do not hurt at losing.

So strident was the PCB's denial of any mischief, that they dismissed the suggestion of a well-meaning journalist that Anti Corruption Unit officials speak to the press about the precautions they have taken to ensure a clean series. "Absolutely no need," said Shaharyar. "There is not a shadow of doubt, so for us to have the ACU team explain is not necessary. They are fine professional people whose job is to observe, not explain to the public. I know for a fact that nothing wrong has happened."

Noor Mohammad, Pakistan's representative on the ACU, was present at the press conference, but didn't say a word. Had he made a statement, it would have reassured those who still believe this series was in some way fixed - but even in his silence he was conveying a strong message.