Two news stories published yesterday in The Sunday Times and News of the World have tried to cast aspersions on the conduct of certain members of the Pakistani cricket team currently competing in the World Cup. One relates to the closed chapter of 'ball-tampering' and the other to the on-going judicial inquiry about match-fixing in Pakistan. Both these stories are blatant attempts to undermine the sterling performances of the Pakistan team during the current tournament and to unnerve them so as to hamper their progress towards the Final.

Ball-tampering

This issue was first raised during the Pakistan team's tour of England in 1992. It died its natural death as nothing could be proved against the current Pakistan players. Mr Simon Wilde has now tried to resurrect this issue through his report in The Sunday Times and the Pakistan team takes serious affront at this malicious attempt to muddy an otherwise pristine tournament. The writer has quoted an unnamed Australian player and the commentator Tony Greig to support the allegation of ball-tampering by Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. While it is doubtful there is any Australian opponent who would have levelled such a baseless charge, the opinions of Mr Greig on the issue are the views of a single individual without any official sanction. If we were to consider his views seriously then it would be appropriate to consider the views of others such as the commentator Mr Geoffrey Boycott, whose views on the matter differ quite radically from Mr Greig's. The Pakistan cricket team has received no official complaint from the organisers of the tournament regarding this issue and, therefore, considers these allegations an attempt to create unnecessary controversy. In so doing, the writer seems to have belittled the authority and ability of the ICC, the ECB, the organisers of the World Cup tournament, the umpires and the match referee. The fact is that Shoaib Akhtar, the world's fastest bowler, shall have to be tackled on the wicket and not through baseless allegations in the press.

Match-fixing

Pakistanis as a whole and the Pakistan cricket team in particular stand for the rule of law and show the greatest respect to it. Since the inquiry into the match-fixing affair is sub judice in Pakistan we feel it improper to comment on its proceedings. By the same token News of the World may have committed contempt of court by printing the alleged proceedings of the Judicial inquiry. The former Pakistan players (one of whom has been desperately trying to sell his concocted allegations to other newspapers in England) who have been quoted have all been discarded from the team due to poor performance and, therefore, an inherent conflict of interest on their part is involved. We feel that this story in the News of the World is malixious and a crude attempt to tarnish the image of the current Pakistan players since it asks for action against three unnamed Pakistan players against whom there are only allegations but does not seek the same for the three Australian players who have admitted to accepting money for providing match information.

Nadir Chaudri
Media Manager
Pakistan Cricket Team