Pakistan: Give us evidence

Abdul Razzaq bowls India's Sadogopan Ramesh

The Pakistan Cricket Board has ruled out any formal invetigation into claims that two of the national team's 1999 World Cup matches were fixed unless they receive hard evidence.

Dr Ali Bacher told the King Commission in Cape Town on Monday that former Pakistan batsman Majid Khan had informed him that the games against Bangladesh and India had both been fixed.

Pakistan lost both matches but still reached the final of the tournament, which was won by Australia.

PCB chairman Tauqir Zia said: "No inquiry will be conducted until Ali Bacher promises to us to provide evidence to substantiate his allegations.

"A lot of accusations are being made purely on hearsay. That doesn't solve the problem but complicates it because every can stand up and accuse the other board."

Tauqir Zia: Refuses to act on hearsay

Khan's three-year stint as PCB chairman came to an end during the World Cup.

"Why did Majid keep sitting on this information for nearly a year, Why didn't he tell any of the cricket board officials to write to the judicial commission," Zia added.

The findings of a Pakistan government inquiry into match-fixing, headed by Judge Malik Mohammed Qayyum, were released last month and recommended life bans for two former Test players and fines for six others.

Zia said the allegations about Pakistan wre not relevant to the current South African hearing.

"The King Commission has been constituted to probe Hansie Cronje's involvement. It has not been formed to accuse other teams."