Parliamentarian accuses Pakistan cricket team of throwing crucial Champions Trophy matches

Pakistan’s cricket team accused of throwing games

ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani parliamentarian has accused the national cricket team of deliberately losing matches in this month’s Champions Trophy tournament and has demanded an explanation from its coach, captain and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“We will be meeting with them on Oct. 13 as we feel the team deliberately lost the games against Australia and New Zealand,” Jamshed Dasti, chairman of the Standing Committee on Sports in the Pakistan Lower House, told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Pakistan was defeated by Australia in the last group match last week before losing to New Zealand in the semifinals.

“They lost to Australia just to keep India out of the tournament,” Dasti said.

Australia might not have qualified for the semifinal had Pakistan won against the defending champion, and India could have advanced had they defeated West Indies by a big margin.

“There are lots of doubts on the performance of the team and we feel it has to be cleared by the PCB officials and the team management,” Dasti said. “The way we lost in the semifinal, it has left the whole nation disappointed and the PCB has to give answers.”

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam and captain Younis Khan returned home Monday, while PCB chairman Ijaz Butt remained in South Africa to attend International Cricket Council meetings.

It is not the first time that the parliamentary committee has summoned PCB officials, however the committee has only the power to give recommendations to the prime minister and the president.

“This time I can assure you that we will make sure our recommendations be given due considerations,” Dasti said.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is the patron-in-chief of the PCB.