LAHORE: Pakistan's cricket chief on Thursday rubbished recent match-fixing allegations levelled against the national team, defending the players after their Champions Trophy defeat.
Pakistan's loss to Australia in a Champions Trophy's group match and their defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the semi-final last week sparked allegations from a senator that the team threw the matches.
Jamshed Dasti, chairman of the Senate's standing committee on sports, summoned team captain Younus Khan and coach Intikhab Alam to explain the reasons for the disappointing knock-out in South Africa.
Although Dasti later backed down from his accusations, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt angrily defended the players.
"The senator has a right to criticise the working of the Board but he should not have criticised the team which did very well in the Champions Trophy. There is no proof of fixing," Butt told reporters on his return from South Africa.
"Indian media first levelled such allegations last week... all such things are baseless," he added.
Pakistan was at the top of their group when they lost to Australia last Wednesday, which had no bearing on their progression to the semi finals.
But if Pakistan had won against Australia, India would have had a shot at making it though to the semi-finals on points. Pakistan's defeat ensured their arch-rivals were knocked out of the tournament.
The International Cricket Council also rubbished the latest allegations of match-fixing, saying they were not worth investigating.
Butt said he was satisfied with the team's performance in the Trophy.
"This is cricket, and we are ready to explain the team's performance in the Senate," said Butt of the meeting scheduled for October 13.
Australia successfully defended their Champions Trophy title, beating New Zealand in the final by six wickets at Centurion, South Africa on Monday.
Pakistan's loss to Australia in a Champions Trophy's group match and their defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the semi-final last week sparked allegations from a senator that the team threw the matches.
Jamshed Dasti, chairman of the Senate's standing committee on sports, summoned team captain Younus Khan and coach Intikhab Alam to explain the reasons for the disappointing knock-out in South Africa.
Although Dasti later backed down from his accusations, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt angrily defended the players.
"The senator has a right to criticise the working of the Board but he should not have criticised the team which did very well in the Champions Trophy. There is no proof of fixing," Butt told reporters on his return from South Africa.
"Indian media first levelled such allegations last week... all such things are baseless," he added.
Pakistan was at the top of their group when they lost to Australia last Wednesday, which had no bearing on their progression to the semi finals.
But if Pakistan had won against Australia, India would have had a shot at making it though to the semi-finals on points. Pakistan's defeat ensured their arch-rivals were knocked out of the tournament.
The International Cricket Council also rubbished the latest allegations of match-fixing, saying they were not worth investigating.
Butt said he was satisfied with the team's performance in the Trophy.
"This is cricket, and we are ready to explain the team's performance in the Senate," said Butt of the meeting scheduled for October 13.
Australia successfully defended their Champions Trophy title, beating New Zealand in the final by six wickets at Centurion, South Africa on Monday.
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