PCB suspects 2 Pakistani players of match-fixing

Karachi:

Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday said it suspects two national team players of being involved in match-fixing in Australia even though it did not disclose their identity.

At a time when the local media is abuzz claiming wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is under the scanner for his conspicuously shoddy performance during the Australia tour, PCB chairman Ejaz Butt confirmed a couple of players are suspected of fixing matches.

"It would be foolish to say no match-fixing takes place," Butt told a press conference in Lahore.

"But the fact is it is very difficult to prove this. So I am not going to take any names right now," Butt said.

"We are waiting for a report from the inquiry committee we have set up to probe into the team's poor performances in Australia," he said.

"Once the inquiry committee gives its report I will comment further on this issue," the PCB chief added.

Butt's admission came on the same day that a section of the media reported that Kamran Akmal was being investigated for his alleged involvement in match-fixing.

Akmal was, however, named in a 30-member preliminary squad announced for the Twenty20 World Cup in April-May.

The media has reported that Akmal came under the scanner after he dropped three crucial catches and missed a clear run out chance in the second Test against Australia in Sydney during the Australia tour.

Pakistan lost the Test by 32 runs from a winning position.

A report in 'The News', quoting sources, said Akmal was axed from the Pakistan squad for the two Twenty20 matches against England in Dubai because of the suspicion that he might have deliberately dropped catches in Sydney.

"Otherwise how can you leave out a player who had scored 64 from 33 balls against Australia in his last match? He is a suspect," the source said.