Countries deny 'fix' claims

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India and Bangladesh have dismissed claims that their victories over Pakistan in last year's World Cup in England may have been fixed.

The allegations were made by former Pakistani batsman Majid Khan, but officials from both countries insist their teams were not involved in any collusion over the results.

Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 62 runs at Northampton after their opponents had recorded four successive wins.

"As far as we are concerned, Bangladesh played their match with Pakistan fair and square. We played our best," said Bangladesh Cricket Board president Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

"I stand by my earlier statement that Bangladesh was not party to any match fixing."

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His view was supported by batsman Mehrab Hossain, who insisted that nothing happened during the game to suggest to him that the outcome had been fixed.

"I can never believe this allegation and rather feel it is a conspiracy from some quarter. Cricket is an uncertain game and thus Bangladesh winning that match with Pakistan was a result of our efforts. We put in the best."

India's 47-run victory at Old Trafford was their only success in the Super Six phase of the competition. They scored 227 for six in their 50 overs and then bowled Pakistan out for 180, with Venkatesh Prasad taking five for 27.

But Indian Cricket Board secretary Jayawant Lele said: "How can a match between India and Pakistan be fixed when both teams are out to get one another?

"Pakistan were keen on beating India because they had never beaten us in the World Cup."

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Anshuman Gaekwad, Indian coach during the tournament, described the match as "very competitive".

He added: "Pakistan fought very hard before going down. I went into the Pakistan dressing room after the match and the players were very depressed by the defeat."

The allegations surfaced at the King Commission hearing in Cape Town on Monday when Dr Ali Bacher, head of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, revealed that Khan had told him the two games were fixed.

"Whatever Bacher has stated about me is correct and I stand by his statement that those matches were fixed," Khan later confirmed.