Image courtesy of: The Times
The PCB were fuming about the allegations made in the report
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have launched a desperate mission to mend relations with their counterparts at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the British-based Mail on Sunday newspaper published a report accusing the Pakistan players of match-fixing during their recent ODI series triumph over the West Indies.
The PCB announced that there were infuriated with the comments made by the Mail on Sunday and by their speculation of the third ODI, which ended as a tie, being subjected to spot or match-fixing.
Acting quickly to limit the amount of damage caused, the ECB apologised to the PCB and told them that the comments published in the newspaper had been a “misrepresentation”.
The ECB also added that they have requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) not to investigate the allegations made by the Mail on Sunday.
“The PCB has received assurance from the ECB, that the ECB has not passed any judgment on Pakistan Cricket and that the ECB has not suggested that there was anything to be concerned about during the Pakistan v West Indies series,” the PCB said through a statement. “PCB maintains a zero tolerance approach towards corruption but also feels it to be its obligation to protect Pakistan cricket from baseless allegations.”
The report published by the paper not only touched a nerve with the PCB, but also provoked an angry response from former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, who stated that he would sue the paper if the PCB decided not to.
“If the newspaper fails to provide evidence then the PCB must take them to court,” Latif said. “And if they don’t, I will.”
Latif was also flabbergasted at the life ban imposed on former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria by the ECB.
“Right from the onset the ECB did not have a strong case against Kaneria,” he told AFP. “It seemed that it was just to show the world that their county cricket was clean from fixing.”