Colombo, August 09: Coach Intikhab Alam has dismissed the match-fixing allegations levelled on some Pakistani players during the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, saying he has full faith on his wards and things like this won’t hamper the spirit of the team, which is looking for consolation wins.
”I don’t believe in such rumours, it’s total rubbish,” Intikhab said.
”I have faith in every player of the Pakistan team. We have gone through such situations before. It takes a lot when you haven’t won a single game so far of course it’s a matter of concern. Though we have lost this ODI series it’s good for our cricket and also for the image of Pakistan cricket if we win the remaining two matches (including the Twenty20) and have a happy ending,” he told mediapersons here.
Pakistan cricket has been hit recently after there have been reports that bookies were seen staying in the same hotel floor here as the team, and trying to make contact with Pakistani players during the second Test against Sri Lanka.
The PCB had also informed the ICC to investigate these allegations, and sought legal advice on accusations by former chief selector Abdul Qadir on the involvement of some of the players of the touring side. The ICC has subsequently sent a representative of its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit to look into it. Pakistan’s poor performance in Sri Lanka, just after their triumph in the ICC World Twenty20 in England has come as a shock in their country.
Pakistan lost the three-Test series 2-0 to Sri Lanka, with the third match ending in a draw. The visitors also conceded an unbeatable 1-3 lead to the Sri Lankans in the ongoing five-match one-day series.
However, the visitors earned a convincing victory of 146 runs in the fourth ODI yesterday.
Pakistan play the fifth and final ODI at the same venue- R Premadasa Stadium- tomorrow, before going for the one-off Twenty20 International on Wednesday.
—–Agencies