Australia and Pakistan display a united front (11 January 1999)

11 January 1999

Australia and Pakistan display a united front

By D J Rutnagur in Christchurch

LEADING officials from Australia and Pakistan buried the hatchet over bribery allegations in public yesterday while private meetings shaped a united stand on the issue.

Australian Cricket Board chairman Denis Rogers and Pakistan board chairman Khalid Mahmood held a joint news conference during the International Cricket Council's executive board meeting here in New Zealand.

On Friday, Australian Test players Mark Waugh and Shane Warne had repeated allegations that former Pakistan captain Salim Malik offered them bribes to play badly in matches on Australia's 1994 tour. Malik has denied the allegations.

The ICC's top priority at this meeting was securing a united approach from member countries on the match-fixing and bribery issue.

Spokeswoman Michelle Lewis said "positive and significant progress" was being made and the ICC were expected to have new rules ready to implement after today's session.

Neither Rogers or Mahmood would comment on yesterday's closed-session meeting but they stressed that the two countries were not in conflict over the bribery issue.

The two "are not bitter enemies," Rogers said, but had cleared the air over "misunderstandings and misinformation" and "established a close friendship". Because of that friendship, "neither had to apologise to each other".

Rogers said despite speculation about a deteriorating relationship between Pakistan and Australia, "it's not happening". Mahmood endorsed the comments, adding there had been some "lack of communication over the regulation of Australian players", but this had been cleared up. "I hope in the future there will be no misunderstandings."

He said the allegations of match-fixing against Pakistani players had caused substantial and extensive damage to players and the game.

Mahmood again denied a report he had called for life bans on Warne and Waugh. He said the Pakistan board were anxious that the commission appointed by the Pakistan government to probe into match-fixing allegations reached an early conclusion because the players were upset and could not concentrate on their cricket.

Former Australia spin-bowler Tim May said at a Pakistani judicial inquiry in Melbourne on Saturday that he had twice been offered and rejected large sums of money by then Pakistan captain Malik to throw cricket matches.

Former Australian Cricket Board chairman Alan Crompton denied claims that the ACB had covered up their decision to fine Warne and Waugh for accepting money from an Indian bookmaker.

The corruption controversy began when Warne, Waugh and the now retired May accused Malik in 1995 of offering them bribes to play poorly.

Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy declined to respond to a suggestion by a witness at the inquiry that he may have deliberately missed a stumping in a one-wicket loss to Pakistan four years ago. Healy said he did not wish to dignify the suggestion by commenting on it.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)