Pakistan cricket rape 'baseless'

The team was stunned by the rape allegations

Pakistan's cricket board has dismissed as "baseless" allegations that an unnamed player on tour in Australia raped a woman in a Melbourne hotel.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said it had carried out its own investigation and found there was "no evidence of any such incident".

A woman had approached a sexual assault outreach centre in Melbourne but did not make a formal complaint to police.

The board said "international channels" had been seeking "cheap publicity".

Lawyer hired

"The chapter is closed as far as the Pakistan Cricket Board is concerned after we found no evidence of any such incident," board spokesman Abbas Zaidi told the AFP news agency.

Our players know their duties... they would not do anything that would bring shame on them or their country Abbas Zaidi, Pakistan Cricket Board

"Some of the international channels sought cheap publicity through this case to demean Pakistani cricket, which was very disappointing and we condemn that," he said.

The woman reported the alleged rape to the Centre Against Sexual Assault during the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne but did not file a complaint to police.

A spokesperson for the centre told Australia's Sun Herald newspaper at the time: "There are very good reasons for that, but they are confidential and I am not prepared to discuss them."

Police sources said an investigation could not be made unless a formal complaint was lodged.

The Pakistan Cricket Board immediately ordered a "thorough investigation" and said it would take "exemplary action [if] the alleged charge is found to have a basis in truth".

The board contacted the Pakistan High Commission in Canberra and hired a lawyer.

Mr Zaidi said: "The team management, as well as the PCB, from its sources, conducted a thorough probe but we found the allegations were baseless.

"Our players know their duties, and since they are forbidden from all off field activities through a central contract they would not do anything that would bring shame on them or their country."