World Cup matches were fixed, claims Sarfraz

Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz claimed at a cricket match-fixing inquiry on Saturday that the result of two games at the 1999 World Cup were rigged.

Sarfraz appeared before a commission headed by Justice Karamat Bhandari at the Lahore High Court and recorded a statement for two hours, registrar Kazim Ali Malik told Reuters.

"He gave a lengthy statement. I can confirm he told the commission he believes two World Cup games were fixed and that five or six Pakistan players were involved in match-fixing," he said.

"He also pointed out that a Hindu resident of the UK had played the role of middle man in match-fixing."

The Bhandari commission was constituted by the Pakistan government last month to inquire into allegations that Pakistan's matches against Bangladesh and India in the World Cup in England were fixed.

Pakistan lost both games but still qualified for the next stage of the tournament and eventually made it to the final, which they lost to Australia.

The commission will also look into the conduct of Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar when he stood in the test match between England and South Africa at Headingley in 1998.

"Nawaz had been asked by the commission to make himself available as he was the first person to raise doubts over the results of the matches," Malik said.

This is the second government-level inquiry into match fixing being held in Pakistan.

The first, by Justice Malik Qayyum, recommended a life ban on former captain Salim Malik and fines on Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq, all current Pakistan team members.

Malik said the commission would now convene on October 12 when video tapes of the two matches would be viewed by experts to decide whether there was substance to call up any player or official for cross examination or to record his statement.

Malik added no decision had been taken on whether former South African cricket chief Ali Bacher or former Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Majid Khan -- they have supported the World Cup match-fixing allegations -- would be required to record their statements before the commission.

Mail Cricket Editor