Report on betting and match-fixing upsets senior players (16 February 1999)

16 February 1999

Report on betting and match-fixing upsets senior players

By Our Special Representative

CALCUTTA, Feb 15: Pakistan captain Wasim Akram refused to comment on the latest revelations made regarding the betting and match-fixing allegations but Javed Miandad, one of his accusers, neither admitted nor denied that he made the allegations which were published here.

"I have been told by my higher ups not to make any comments. Until I go back, I would make no statements on this particular subject," said Akram who looked pale, depressed and shocked.

But he didn't hide his displeasure when he said: "Don't ask me anything. Go and talk to that man," pointing towards Javed Miandad.

Miandad, a former Pakistan captain, said: "I haven't read the news. When I will go back to Pakistan, I would lodge a protest as to why such a thing was leaked to an Indian journalist."

The former captain said until he goes through the transcripts of the article, he wouldn't comment. I have heard it from you. Once I read it, I might be able to give you a statement. But that too I will decide if I have to issue a statement."

Asked if his relationship with Akram would be destroyed after this news, Miandad said: "You or other journalists may think that my and Wasim's relationship would be dented. But we don't think that way. I don't want to be dragged into it."

Miandad attacked the newspaper saying: "It is not always that the newspapers have written the truth. They have also lied. The journalists have written wrong stories."

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Khalid Mahmood said he hasn't gone through the details of the story in the magazine but has seen the summary published in an Indian newspaper. "But apparently there seems to be a leakage which is a very serious matter for the concerned court to look into.

"As soon as I reach Pakistan, I would like to place the issue before the judicial commission for a thorough investigation whether there has been any leakage of information because it is yet to be determined after comparing what is actually published and what is going on in the court. It has to be seen if both the reports are the same or not," Mahmood told Dawn at the Eden Gardens.

The PCB chief said as regards its publication at this time, it seems to be a calculated move to bring more pressure on the Pakistani team and attack their determination and morale. "But I am confident that Pakistani players are true professionals and will be unnerved with whatever has been published."

Mahmood said he was not in a position to say whether the report was deliberately leaked to the magazine. "I am not in a position to make any comment on that because to be able to say such a thing, I have to have some information before I could name someone.

"I am not in a position to confirm or deny whether there has been any leakage or not," he stated.

However, he said not all the information which has been published was with the cricket board. "It is with the judicial commission so I feel that they are the best people to determine whether there has been any leakage or not or if there has been any leakage whether it was deliberate or otherwise."

Mahmood said unfortunately Pakistan cricket is caught in a situation where certain players, managers and former officials are on the accusing side while there is a group of players who are being accused of certain illegal activity. "We have been living with this situation for the last four or five years or so. I would have been very pleased if this matter had been resolved a year to two before.

Pakistan manager Shaharyar Khan said: "I don't know the motives behind the story. This type of story is perhaps aimed at creating tension within the team which will not happen."

Shaharyar Khan said he hasn't seen the report himself but expected that it had vested element of trying to sensationalise the issue. "I am sure the team will sit down and sort things out. I will have a pep talk with the players later in the evening."

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)