Sohail backtracks on fixing allegations

LAHORE: Former Pakistan opener Aamer Sohail has backtracked on his comments after his claim that the Pakistan team fixed matches at the ongoing Champions Trophy drew widespread criticism across the country.

The former captain had made the claim after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in their last match in Group B on June 12 to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

But on Friday, Sohail claimed that he never accused the team of fixing matches and was only criticising Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed for not dedicating that win to the legendary Javed Miandad, whose birthday fell on that day. “Sarfraz was asked after the Sri Lanka match whether he wanted to dedicate the win to Miandad. But I heard reports that he refused to do so and said Miandad criticises the team too much.

“What I meant was that Sarfraz has become captain only recently and Miandad is a very big name in Pakistan cricket. He should not have said such things. If Miandad says something, it is only for the improvement of Pakistan cricket,” Sohail told Pakistani channel Samaa TV.

“The other thing I said was that the facilitators of the win cannot be named; however I said nothing about match-fixing or any other foul play -- my statement was misunderstood.

“If Pakistan is winning, then why bring up references to match fixing? I don’t know what agenda people who make such allegations are following.”