Younus and Intikhab fume at match-fixing slur, accusing MP backtracks

Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports MNA Jamshed Dasti, who had stirred the hornet's nest by claiming Pakistan tanked Champions Trophy match against Australia, has back-tracked saying he never accused the players of fixing matches.

Intikhab accused the Indian media of triggering and fanning the match-fixing debate. He asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to decide whether there is any need to restore cricketing ties with India which is "hell bent" on damaging them.

"All this stuff about our team being involved in match-fixing started because of a report in some Indian newspapers and since then they have carried out a relentless campaign to defame us," he said.

"Maybe it is time we also reviewed our cricket relations with India and decided whether we really need to play them when they are hell bent on trying to damage us," said Alam, who had coached the Punjab Ranji team in India.

Alam was shocked that a parliamentarian like Jamshed Dasti, who heads the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports, made a noise on the basis of the reports in India.
"The truth is that it is hard for the Indians to digest the fact that this year in two major tournaments their team, whom they tagged as favourites, was eliminated in  the first round and our team not only won the Twenty20 World Cup but also reached the semifinal of the Champions Trophy," he said.
Alam also hit out at Jamshed Dasti stating he should be very careful while giving statements on cricket matters.
"Without any evidence or proof how can he make such allegations?" he said.
Younus, on his part, was so shocked that he has decided to meet PCB chief Ejaj Butt to discuss the issue.
"It came as a shock to me that such allegations have been made without any evidence or concrete proof to back them up.
Insisting that he would not hesitate to relinquish captaincy if he felt so, Younus said, "I have struggled all my life, so I am not bothered about losing the captaincy or not being able to play for the team. I'm always prepared to face any situation."

A defiant Younus also said he had not decided as yet whether he would go to attend the hearing of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports.
"So far I have received no summons or invitation and at the moment I have not made up my mind whether to go and attend such a hearing," he said.

Meanwhile Dasti, who had accused Pakistan of throwing their match against Australia "on purpose", did a complete volte-face and said he never accused the side of involving in match-fixing.
"I never said the Pakistani players indulged in any match-fixing against Australia or New Zealand. What I was trying to say has been completely misunderstood by everyone," Dasti said.
He claimed all he wanted to say was that some people had called him up and told him about their concerns that Pakistan might have deliberately lost their matches to Australia and New Zealand.
"What I was trying to say was that the Standing Committee is also concerned by these reports and it is fair to hold an inquiry into the allegations and for this purpose we intend to call the captain, coach and the Chairman of the (Pakistan Cricket) Board to a hearing soon," Dasti said.
He, however, continued his criticism of PCB and said the committee was unanimous that until Ejaj Butt was removed as Chairman of the board, there could be no improvement in Pakistan cricket.