Rehman Malik also welcomed the measures taken by the Indian Government for security during the semi-final to be played by the two countries on Wednesday. – File Photo

KARACHI: Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has warned the country's cricket team against match fixing and said they were under surveillance for Wednesday's highly charged World Cup semi-final against India.

Pakistan cricket has been rocked by match fixing allegations, with three top players handed lengthy bans by an International Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunal.

“I had given a warning yesterday (Sunday) that there should be no match fixing. This time I am watching it very closely. If any such thing happens we will take action,” Malik told reporters in Karachi Monday.

The high-profile encounter between the South Asian rivals will be played in Mohali, India, amid tight security.

The clash which has overshadowed the World Cup final will be watched by Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on an invitation from his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

It will be the first game between the two teams on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead and stalled a fragile four-year peace process between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals.

Malik said the team was being monitored closely.

“I should not have revealed but we have put them under strict surveillance, like who are the people meeting our players, with whom they are talking by telephone,” he said.

“It was necessary after what had happened in London. We cannot take any chance,” he said and described the current members as clean.

“I am sure that our current team members are very clean and I hope that they will not disappoint the nation.” Pakistan cricket has been hit by match fixing allegations which saw players Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif banned on charges related to fixing during last year's Lord's Test against England.

Malik advised the players to concentrate on the game.

“They should continue the practice and go to bed early, rise up according to their schedule and dedicate themselves to the game for Pakistan.” Malik welcomed reassurances from his Indian counterpart P. Chidambaram on providing full security for the Pakistani players. – AFP

The former Pakistan cricket team captain and chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf, Imran Khan however dismissed the interior minister’s statement and said it did not ‘mean anything.’

Pakistani cricket legend was hopeful that Pakistan and Sri Lanka would meet in the final of the world cup. -- DawnNews

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.