KARACHI, Nov 17: A judicial commission probing charges of match-fixing in Pakistan’s two World Cup 1999 defeats summoned former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram for its next hearing, court sources said Saturday.

Wasim is summoned for the next hearing set for Nov 24 and two journalists who covered the World Cup 1999 in England are also summoned,” registrar for the case Kazim Ali Malik told SADA.

Wasim was the Pakistan team captain during the World Cup 1999. Justice Karamat Bhandari of the Lahore High Court is probing whether Pakistan’s surprise defeats against Bangladesh and India were fixed and whether any players were involved.

The commission held its seventh hearing Saturday during which journalists Waheed Khan and Zahid Maqsood recorded their statements.

Confusion prevailed over Wasim’s testimony as many expected he would be in the court, but Malik said Wasim was not summoned and had been called for the next hearing.

Mailk said off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has not been summoned. Maqsood told the commission that match-fixing rumors surrounded Pakistan’s World Cup defeats. “I did not cover the Pakistan-Bangladesh match, but heard a lot of rumors about the match being fixed. However, no one gave any solid proof,” he added.

Bangladesh’s surprise 62-run win over Pakistan raised doubts of match-fixing as Pakistan was unbeaten in the cup before taking on Bangladesh, who were playing their debut in the World Cup.

“An Indian journalist told me that Pakistan would lose the match, but he too had no material to substantiate those claims.” Maqsood denied Pakistan’s defeat against India was fixed. “I did cover that match and since emotions of both teams and millions of people are involved in a Pakistan-India match, I don’t feel it was fixed,” he said.

Waheed said match-fixing allegations have never been substantiated. “I covered the whole World Cup and did hear rumors of match-fixing, but there is no solid material to back these allegations,” he told the court.

He said South African official Dr Ali Bacher’s statement would be crucial. “Since Dr Bacher first leveled allegations of match-fixing in the 1999 World Cup, his statement would be crucial and he must provide the material,” he said.

The commission urged Bacher to provide material or record his statement to substantiate allegations of match-fixing, but he has not responded as yet. Justice Bhandari commission was appointed in May this year and started its proceedings in September.

Former Pakistan captain Majid Khan, Chief Executive of Pakistan Cricket Board during the 1999 Cup, and former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz backed the match-fixing allegations.

Four top Pakistan players current captain Waqar Younis, Moin Khan, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq denied any match-fixing while recording their statements last month.—SADA