Bacher two-faced8217; 8212; Imran

Indian cricket officials have formally protested to the ICC over Bacher8217;s allegations of match-fixing during India8217;s win over Pakistan in last year8217;s World Cup. Bacher told the King Commission in South Africa last week that he had heard from former Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Majid Khan, Imran8217;s cousin, that two matches involving Pakistan at the World Cup were rigged. He also recounted a conversation with a bookmaker who told him that former Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar had taken money to influence a Test between England and South Africa.

quot;I watched the match between Pakistan and India in the World Cup and only a fool can say that the match was fixed,quot; Imran said. quot;Bacher is the first official to pass a damning judgement against an ICC umpire and from now on people will question umpires8217; credibility,quot; he said. quot;If Javed Akhtar is sensible he can earn millions of dollars by sueing Bacher.quot;

Imran said the ICC must take Bacher to task in its annual meeting in London on Thursday. It should also investigate the ICC8217;s alleged knowledge of the Australian Cricket Board8217;s cover-up of its decision to fine Shane Warne and Mark Waugh for providing pitch and weather information to an Indian bookie in 1994.

Imran said former South African captain Hansie Cronje8217;s testimony that he had accepted money to fix matches and discussed offers with the team was an quot;indictment of South African cricket. Cronje8217;s confession is said but what has come across is that Cronje withheld facts. He lied and no matter how sorry one feels about him he has to be punished,quot; he said.

quot;The most tarnishing thing is how a team sat down and listened to a proposal of 250,000 and considered it. I consider this itself is an indictment of South African cricket.quot;