Thursday, 19 September 2002  
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka.
Sports
News

Business

Features

Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

Government - Gazette

Sunday Observer

Budusarana On-line Edition





Pakistan's defeat cleared

NEW DELHI, Wednesday (AFP) An International Cricket Council (ICC) investigation into Pakistan's defeat in the Champions Trophy last week has cleared the team of any wrongdoing, official sources said on Wednesday.

"The matter is over and Pakistan does not have to worry about anything," the source said, adding the Pakistani team management had been informed about it.

The ICC had on Monday announced that its anti-corruption unit reviewed the tapes of Pakistan's eight-wicket defeat to hosts Sri Lanka in the tournament opener played last Thursday.

Pakistani manager Yawar Saeed confirmed he had been told by the ICC that the issue was now closed. "I was given a copy of the ICC statement issued on Monday and told there was nothing to worry about," Yawar said. "The matter is finished."

Electing to bat first, Pakistan were shot out for 200 with two deliveries to spare and Sri Lanka romped home in the 37th over after an unbeaten century from captain Sanath Jayasuriya.

Seasoned opener Saeed Anwar (52) and rookie Misbah-ul Haq (47) were the only Pakistani batsmen among the runs as six others failed to reach double figures on the slow wicket.

Media reports suggested that the investigators were particularly interested in the run out of Pakistani batsman Yousuf Youhana for zero in the 10th over of the innings.

The ICC statement on Monday confirmed the anti-corruption unit (ACU) had asked for tapes of all games in order to review any "unusual" incidents.

"Specifically, it has reviewed a number of incidents that took place in the opening match of the tournament between Pakistan and Sri Lanka," the statement added.

Sources said such action was "normal procedure" and would not have been made public had a furore not been created after commentator Tony Greig announced on air that the tape of the first match had been sought. The ICC is not bound to reveal its findings unless "something dramatic turns up," the source added.

The televsion company producing pictures of the tournament declined to comment when asked on Wednesday if the ICC had summoned the tapes of the five other matches played so far.

The Champions Trophy, regarded as a mini World Cup, features all the 10 Test-playing nations and two qualifiers, Kenya and the Netherlands. The ACU was formed two years ago after the match-fixing scandal which led to life bans on three Test captains - Hansie Cronje of South Africa (since deceased), Mohammad Azharuddin of India and Salim Malik of Pakistan.

HNB-Pathum Udanaya2002

Crescat Development Ltd.

www.priu.gov.lk

www.helpheroes.lk


News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |


Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager


Hosted by Lanka Com Services