PCB refutes ICC's fears of financial fixing; suspects certain players deliberately underperformed during the Sydney Test to jeopardise Yousuf's captaincy
PCB refutes ICC's fears of financial fixing; suspects certain players deliberately underperformed during the Sydney Test to jeopardise Yousuf's captaincy
The ugly talk of match-fixing has reared its head again in Pakistan cricket following the statement of the chairman of the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) Lord Condon that his team has been investigating Pakistan's performance in their Sydney Test defeat against Australia in January.
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Australia won by 36 runs despite conceding a first-innings deficit of 206 runs and allegations of match-fixing have surrounded the game, with a parliamentary committee in Pakistan summoning top officials to answer questions.
"There were fixing charges but were not proved. We have banned and fined the players who were found guilty as per the PCB rules," said PCB chairman Ejaz Butt.
It's an old tactic in Pakistan cricket where player power determines that like-minded people remain in the saddle by deliberately under-performing. Yousuf did not gel with the team as his views were different and would stay aloof.
Had Pakistan won the Sydney Test, Yousuf's position as captain would have become stronger. According to the video leaks, players like Kamran and Umar Akmal did not back Yousuf. Shoaib Malik, who was not playing, would instigate other players against Yousuf as well.
There have been serious differences between Malik and Yousuf ever since 2007 when Malik became captain and ensured that Yousuf was dropped from the 2007 World Twenty20.
Video footage of a PCB meeting investigating the Australia tour debacle was leaked to the media, showing players and former officials raising suspicions about fixing during the tour. Assistant coach Aquib Javed, coach Intikhab Alam, manager Abdur Raqeeb and Yousuf, have all said in the video that Akmal deliberately under-performed.
Condon said yesterday: "What we are trying to establish is whether that was because rival camps wanted to do down captains or potential captains. Or whether they were doing something more serious."
The Pakistan board, however, will not be looking into the matter any further. "From our end the enquiry is complete," said Butt.
How the Sydney Test unfolded
>>u00a0Australia win the toss and elect to bat on a good batting wicket. But Mohammad Sami rips apart the top order reducing Australia to 10 for 3.
>> Sami's new ball partner Mohammad Asif then gets into the action and runs through the next six wickets as Australia struggle to make 127. Mitchell Johnson's 38 is the top score of the innings.
>> Pakistan have to drive home the advantage and they do it pretty well as four of the top five batsmen get 40+ scores and only the last two batsmen fail to reach double figures. They were all out for 333, a lead of 206 runs. Only four sides have won a Test after conceding a lead of more than 200 runs.
>> Australia begin their second innings well and openers Shane Watson and Phil Hughes put on 105 before the latter is dismissed for 37. Watson goes on to make 97. But they lose the plot after that and from 217 for 4 they slump to 257 for 8. The match is Pakistan's to lose as Australia are effectively 51 for 8. Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal also misses an easy run out chance when Watson is on 49.
>> Australia are 286 for 8 with a lead of 80 runs after Day Three. Michael Hussey is on 73 and Peter Siddle is unbeaten on 10. But the story could have been entirely different if wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal did not drop Michael Hussey thrice through the day. Hussey was dropped on 27, 45 and 52.
>> The first session of Day four begins with skipper Mohammad Yousuf setting a defensive field with eight men on the fence. This allows Hussey to pick easy singles. The bowling too is well below par with pacers bowling either too short or too full to both the batsmen.
>> Former Australia skipper Ian Chappell, who is on commentary duty at the time, is livid with the fielding positions that are allowing Australia to milk the bowling.
>> With Australia 144 ahead, Akmal drops Peter Siddle. The innings finally ends at 381 with Hussey and Siddle putting on 123 for the ninth wicket. Pakistan need 176 to beat Australia.
>> The Pakistan chase is not comfortable but openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt put on 34 before Farhat falls for 22. In a small chase, start is the key and Pakistan seems to have got that right.
>> Butt falls after making 21 and after that, only three batsmen manage to get into double figures (Mohammad Yousuf 19, Umar Akmal 49, Kamran Akmal 11).
>> While Australia bowled decently well, most Pakistan batsmen are guilty of either trying to play the big shots or the loose ones leading to their downfall. It did not appear as if there was any purpose to their chase or any method or plan.
>> Key man Yousuf's dismissal turn things around and Australia does not allow Pakistan to get back into the match. Pakistan is dismissed for 139.
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