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Fixing charges impossible to prove: Waugh
Steve Waugh said that while the accusations of match-fixing during the Sydney Test were devastating, they are impossible to prove.
New Delhi:
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh said that while the accusations of match-fixing during the Test between Pakistan and Australia in Sydney were devastating, they are impossible to prove.
According to a 'The Australian' report, Pakistan's coach and manager during the Australian tour expressed concerns that wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was involved in fixing elements of the match, revealing their suspicions in leaked evidence from a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry into the performances of the side.
Australia had pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind win in the Test after trailing by 206 runs on the first innings.
Waugh, who watched the match, said he believed Australia was capable of winning it even after the disastrous start.
"I thought it was a great Test match," Waugh said.
"I would be devastated like all sports fans, if there was an element of match-fixing to it because it was a fantastic Test.
"It was up and down the whole way. It fluctuated, and that's what Test matches are all about, to have someone come out and say it wasn't quite right, that would be very damaging to the game and also to Pakistan.
"First day I said 'if you want to see a great victory I would back Australia now' because that's the sort of situation Australian cricketers like. They like to be behind the eight ball, the odds against them, and that's when they produce their best cricket, so I wasn't surprised by the end result."
The former skipper also said that the charged were very difficult to prove.
"It's very hard, very hard (to know)," Waugh said. "Particularly in cricket where it goes for six hours a day and there's a lot of deliveries, a lot of incidents happen.
"There's a lot of mistakes made because they are human. A lot of great things happen. How you distinguish between those I don't know. That's always going to be the hard part.
"Unless you've got hard evidence you are better off keeping your mouth closed because sport is like that. If it's too predictable no one would watch it.
"We have heard these things before and they have got to be substantiated. There's always a lot of rumours. People have got to bring evidence to the table because otherwise it does damage the game of cricket."
According to a 'The Australian' report, Pakistan's coach and manager during the Australian tour expressed concerns that wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was involved in fixing elements of the match, revealing their suspicions in leaked evidence from a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry into the performances of the side.
Australia had pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind win in the Test after trailing by 206 runs on the first innings.
Waugh, who watched the match, said he believed Australia was capable of winning it even after the disastrous start.
"I thought it was a great Test match," Waugh said.
"I would be devastated like all sports fans, if there was an element of match-fixing to it because it was a fantastic Test.
"It was up and down the whole way. It fluctuated, and that's what Test matches are all about, to have someone come out and say it wasn't quite right, that would be very damaging to the game and also to Pakistan.
"First day I said 'if you want to see a great victory I would back Australia now' because that's the sort of situation Australian cricketers like. They like to be behind the eight ball, the odds against them, and that's when they produce their best cricket, so I wasn't surprised by the end result."
The former skipper also said that the charged were very difficult to prove.
"It's very hard, very hard (to know)," Waugh said. "Particularly in cricket where it goes for six hours a day and there's a lot of deliveries, a lot of incidents happen.
"There's a lot of mistakes made because they are human. A lot of great things happen. How you distinguish between those I don't know. That's always going to be the hard part.
"Unless you've got hard evidence you are better off keeping your mouth closed because sport is like that. If it's too predictable no one would watch it.
"We have heard these things before and they have got to be substantiated. There's always a lot of rumours. People have got to bring evidence to the table because otherwise it does damage the game of cricket."
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