Pakistan's tour of New Zealand in doubt

Published: 7:21PM Monday August 30, 2010 Source: ONE Sport/Reuters

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  • Pakistan's tour of New Zealand in doubt (Source: Photosport)
    Dan Vettori and Daryl Tuffey embrace after the Dunedin triumph over Pakistan - Source: Photosport

New Zealand Cricket is refusing to comment on whether this summer's tour by Pakistan will go ahead, until the ICC has concluded an investigation.

The Pakistan team is under the microscope after allegations of a betting scandal in the fourth Test against England at Lords. England won the match on day four by an innings and 225 runs.

Yesterday, London police arrested a 35-year-old for offering bribes to some Pakistan players for spot-fixing in the match, following allegations in the British tabloid newspaper, the News of the World.

Pakistan is due to play two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals in England over the coming weeks but there are calls from the international cricketing world to ban them for a significant amount of time if the allegations of corruption are proven.

Australian Martin Speed, former chief executive of the ICC from 2001 until 2008, said suspension was a "serious" option for Pakistan.

"It looks as though it is endemic - that several of the team members are involved and have been for some time," Speed told ABC radio.

"So perhaps they need a rest," he said. "It looks a fairly compelling case."

New Zealand Cricket Players Association boss Heath Mills will not comment on whether Pakistan should be banned, but he certainly thinks the game has been tarnished.

"I am not going to sit here and say I am comfortable with what I have seen," Mills told ONE News.

"Nobody is, none of the players are. It's poor and world cricket's got a job to do to rectify the situation."

Pakistan is due to tour New Zealand in December and January to play two Tests, six one-day internationals, and three Twenty20s.

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan says he will not comment on the tour being scrapped at this stage.

He said he's waiting for the ICC anti-corruption unit to investigate and will follow their jurisdicton. However, like Mills, he says this sort of scandal significantly damages the game.

"I mean when you've got that sort of news making front pages in media around the world it's not good for the game," Vaughan told ONE News.

Questions resurface over Australian match

Meanwhile, Australia's cricketers remain convinced their Test victory over Pakistan in Sydney earlier this year was achieved fairly, with contest once again the subject of match-fixing allegations.

The match was also investigated by the ICC's anti-corruption unit, while the Pakistan tour of Australia, in which the tourists lost all of their matches, was the subject to an inquiry by the Pakistani board.

"The way we won (in Sydney) was one of the more satisfying moments that I've had on the cricket field," Australia captain Ricky Ponting told ABC radio on Monday.

"As a cricketer everything I have seen so far has been quite shocking to tell the truth," Ponting said.

"Now, when some of these things come to light is when you start to slightly doubt some of the things that have happened.

"We all felt that we'd done everything in our power after a shaky start on day one.

"It wasn't until.. maybe even a couple of months after that game was over that it (match-fixing speculation) all sort of started."

Batsman Mike Hussey, whose 134 not out in the second innings and 123-run ninth wicket stand with Peter Siddle helped set up the win, and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, also told local media they felt the victory was achieved fairly.

Cricket Australia said they were also shocked by the revelations but had no doubt the team had won the match on their merits.

Like New Zealand Cricket, Australia are waiting for the ICC investigation before deciding on future tours by Pakistan.

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