Commission clears Pakistanis of match-fixing

A commission of inquiry has cleared Pakistani cricketers of charges of involvement in match-fixing during the 1999 World Cup in England, authorities said.

The inquiry carried out by Justice Karamat Bhandari of the Lahore High Court found no evidence that Pakistan had thrown games against Bangladesh and India during the tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

"The report clears the players of any wrong doing," PCB spokesman Khalid Butt told Reuters. "The commission has given no recommendations since no evidence of match-fixing has been found."

Despite losing against India and Bangladesh, Pakistan went on make the final of the World Cup, but lost that game heavily against Australia.

The inquiry, commissioned by the government last year, questioned more than 50 people over a period of four months, including World Cup captain Wasim Akram and many of his team.

Almost all dismissed the match-fixing allegations, except former Test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz and former PCB chief executive Majid Khan who said the allegations had substance and needed to be thoroughly investigated.

Butt said Pakistan would be submitting the report to the International Cricket Council at an executive board meeting which begins on Monday in London.

He said a full copy of the report would be available on the PCB's website later on Saturday.

Mail Cricket Editor