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Julian Guyer on uncertainty surrounding the World Cup finalists in the wake of damaging allegations.

Saqlain Mushtaq yesterday refused to confirm or deny a report in a Pakistan newspaper that he was one of eight cricketers quitting the international side after allegations that Pakistan had 'thrown' the World Cup final against Australia and misbehaved off the field.

The eight, including captain Wasim Akram, pace bowler Waqar Younis and veteran Salim Malik, were said to be retiring so that the public could believe their innocence.

Saqlain, 22, was making his first appearance of the season for County Championship leaders Surrey at the Oval. He showed no sign of the speculation affecting him, taking seven for 38 in Durham's second innings on his way to match figures of 12 for 110 as Surrey won by 226 runs.

After the game Saqlain refused to speak to journalists. But Keith Medlycott, the Surrey coach, said: ``When I spoke to him about this story he just laughed. He's young and I think he will have a long international career.''

Pakistan's official APP news agency reported last week that the accountability bureau had said some Pakistan players ``went overboard in merry-making'' during the World Cup in England.

A Lahore newspaper, Jang, quoted a bureau official as saying: ``The intelligence agencies have presented evidence of indiscipline, lack of co-ordination and planning by The Management and the members of the cricket team.''

Jang said Saqlain, Wasim, Salim, Moin Khan, Ijaz Ahmed, Waqar, Mushtaq Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq had decided to retire in the wake of the allegations.

``The decision was taken immediately after the final and is expected to be announced by the skipper shortly,'' the newspaper said.

Apart from Saqlain, none of the named players was immediately available to confirm or deny the report.

Meanwhile, the judge investigating charges of betting and match-fixing in Pakistani cricket said that he had sought help from the Prime Minister's anti-corruption bureau.

``I have asked the Ehtesab [Accountability] Bureau to let me know what information they have collected during the World Cup. I am expecting a reply by Tuesday,'' Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum told the Reuters news agency from Lahore.

The judge said if the documents were made available, he would be able to submit his report to President Rafiq Tarar by July 16.

``The report is in the final stages. All I need to include is the July 8 hearing which I believe is going to be the last.''

Wasim, Salim and former coach Javed Miandad have been summoned to appear on Thursday, as have the kidnappers of Wasim's father. No reason for the 1996 abduction has ever been made public.

But Qayyum said the report would be delayed if the government asked him to investigate charges of match-fixing in the World Cup final.

``The World Cup charges are new. I have already sought clearance from the government if they want me to include the World Cup also.

``Investigating the charges in the World Cup means the repetition of the entire procedure. But if the government think that investigations were being delayed and the World Cup work has been done by the Accountability Bureau, I will compile just one report in light of both the investigations,'' he said.

Wasim, Salim and Ijaz were implicated when match-fixing investigations were carried out by a Pakistan Cricket Board committee last year.