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Pakistan serves notice on Arthur over fixing claim

Pakistani cricket authorities sent a legal notice on Monday to former South African coach Mickey Arthur after he accused the Pakistani team of fixing a match played against his team three years ago.

Arthur, who stood down as South African coach earlier this year, said in an interview last week that there were suspicions that the fifth and final one-day match between Pakistan and South Africa in Lahore in 2007 was fixed.

Pakistan, chasing 240 to win, were well on their way to victory on 149-2 but played their last eight wickets for just 70 runs, losing the match by 14 runs.

“The recently published statement in media attributed to you, in which you have levelled serious allegations after a lapse of three years, aiming to sell your autobiography, is extremely startling,” said the legal notice seen by AFP.

“You have not brought any evidence to support your allegations and the PCB finds all these allegations frivolous, whimsical, damaging and disparaging to Pakistan cricket.”

The notice demands Arthur respond within seven days, “unconditionally and publicly retract” the statement and offer an “unqualified and unconditional apology”.

It also demands a written undertaking that no such statements will be made publicly again and “that your biography will not contain such or similar libels and disparaging statements against the Pakistan team or any of its members.”

The notice, a copy of which was also sent to the South Africa cricket authorities and International Cricket Council (ICC), also demanded a “substantial sum” in damages.

Pakistani cricket has been blighted by allegations of match-fixing.

The national team’s recent tour of England was marred by spot-fixing allegations that resulted in the suspension of three key players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

The ICC earlier this month advised the PCB to take strict measures to curb corruption and disciplinary problems in Pakistani cricket or risk sanctions.

On that advice, the PCB introduced a new code of conduct for players with stricter punishments for violation — steps praised by the ICC Task team on Sunday.