Match-fixing cloud hangs over Kiwis historic 1994 win against Pak

WELLINGTON - New Zealand’s Test win over Pakistan in 1994 has come under the scanner following the recent match-fixing allegations levelled against Pakistani players during their England tour.

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull says that he witnessed some strange incidents during the third Test match played in Christchurch, where the Pakistani bowlers gave away free runs.

The Kiwis had lost the opening two Test matches played against Pakistan, and were in an extremely poor position at the end of the second day in the Christchurch test.

The Black Caps trailed Pakistan by 152 runs after being bowled out for just 200 in their first innings.

But at the end of the day, the Kiwis easily chased down the target of 324 to defeat Pakistan, which still remains New Zealand’s highest successful chase.

Talking on TV3’s Campbell Live last night Doull said it wasn’t until the recent claims against Pakistan players for spot-fixing that he started to think about the 1994 Test that he had played in, the New Zealand Herald reports.

“Well I guess when these things come up you do look back at games you’ve played in and have been involved in and certainly ask questions. I think back and think that was one of those games in question where you looked at and thought there were some strange incidents that went on that you maybe wouldn’t have thought at the time but certainly do now,” the paper quoted Doull, as saying.

Doull, now a cricket commentator, further said it was weird to witness New Zealand’s successfully chase against a bowling attack that had dominated through out the series.

“I guess there was a lot of no-balls in that innings as well, I think Wasim Akram bowled about 12 no-balls. There was a lot of short deliveries that seemed to give as free runs,” said Doull.

“It was the biggest total New Zealand has ever chased down in a test match, 340-something, and we ended up doing it reasonably comfortably,” he added.

The Pakistan team is at present in the midst of a fresh betting scam, where fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are alleged to have bowled pre-arranged no-balls in the Lord’s Test, which England won by an innings and 225 runs. (ANI)