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| September 19, 2002 | Thursday | Rajab 11, 1423 |
Waqar’s men cleared of any wrongdoing
NEW DELHI, Sept 18: An International Cricket Council (ICC) investigation into Pakistan’s defeat in the Champions Trophy last week has cleared the team of any wrongdoing, official sources said Wednesday.
“The matter is over and Pakistan does not have to worry about anything,” the source said, adding the Pakistani team management had been informed about it.
The ICC had Monday announced that its anti-corruption unit reviewed the tapes of Pakistan’s eight-wicket defeat to hosts Sri Lanka in the tournament opener played last Thursday.
Pakistani manager Yawar Saeed confirmed he had been told by the ICC that the issue was now closed.
“I was given a copy of the ICC statement issued on Monday and told there was nothing to worry about,” Yawar said. “The matter is finished.”
Electing to bat first, Pakistan were shot out for 200 with two deliveries to spare and Sri Lanka romped home in the 37th over after an unbeaten century from captain Sanath Jayasuriya.
Seasoned opener Saeed Anwar (52) and rookie Misbah-ul-Haq (47) were the only Pakistani batsmen among the runs as six others failed to reach double figures on the slow wicket.
Media reports suggested that the investigators were particularly interested in the run out of Pakistani batsman Yousuf Youhana for zero in the 10th over of the innings.
The ICC statement Monday confirmed the anti-corruption unit (ACU) had asked for tapes of all games in order to review any “unusual” incidents.
“Specifically, it has reviewed a number of incidents that took place in the opening match of the tournament between Pakistan and Sri Lanka,” the statement added.
Sources said such action was “normal procedure” and would not have been made public had a furore not been created after commentator Tony Greig announced on air that the tape of the first match had been sought.
The ICC is not bound to reveal its findings unless “something dramatic turns up,” the source added.
The televsion company producing pictures of the tournament declined to comment when asked Wednesday if the ICC had summoned the tapes of the five other matches played so far.
COLOMBO: Brian Lara is spending a second night in a Colombo hospital after undergoing tests for suspected hepatitis, West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt said Wednesday.
The 33-year-old was admitted to hospital Tuesday after scoring 111 in the West Indies 29-run win over Kenya in the Champions Trophy.
“Brian is spending another night in hospital and we should have some more news in the morning,” Skerritt said.
Skerritt also confirmed he had visited the left-hander during the day.
“I’ve been to see him and he can sit up in bed, we talked,” he said.
“But I’m not a medical man so I can’t give you any more information.”
Lara was hospitalised after being examined by a doctor when he came off the field following his innings.
“Brian had discoloured eyes, they were yellowy-orange, there was weakness and he was de-hydrated,” Skerritt said after the match.
Lara was due to undergo tests to determine the exact nature of his illness, but a media release sent out on Tuesday afternoon said the player had “suspected hepatitis.”—AFP/Reuters
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