Match-fixing unit investigates Pakistan defeat

The spectre of match fixing returned to haunt cricket yesterday. At the end of a long, worrying day in Colombo it turned out that it was probably a harmless kind of ghost, more Caspar than Poltergeist.

After hours of rumours, the International Cricket Council confirmed that its Anti-Corruption Unit had reviewed several incidents which took place in last Friday's opening match of the Champions Trophy between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and ended in an easy eight-wicket win for the hosts. Originally, the match was likely to be remembered only for providing the first instance of an lbw appeal being referred to the third umpire for consultation.

There was a growing feeling among those who watched the match that there would simply be no case to answer. If there were dodgy dismissals they were more cock-up than conspiracy. Under normal circumstances the tape review would have remained secret while the ACU did its work, but they were forced into the open.

Tony Greig, the former England captain who is now a television commentator, mentioned on air that a tape had been asked for. The Times of India wasted no time in following it up.

Dave Richardson, the ICC's general manager (cricket), said: "They look at all dodgy dropped catches and run-outs. This isn't unusual."

There was a world-weary reaction from Pakistan, who were one of the teams at the centre of the original match-fixing allegations which led to the establishment of the ACU. Waqar Younis, their captain, said: "I've heard about the inquiry but I can't comment on that. We've played our cricket in a honest manner."

Khaled Butt, part of the team's management at the Champions Trophy, said it had all gone too far this time. "People are always fingering us."

The match was one of the more tedious of the one-day variety. At the time it seemed to most onlookers that Pakistan, all out for 200, played badly, as they have done often lately, and Sri Lanka took advantage.

The incident which is likely to be first into the ACU's slow-motion machine is the run-out involving Saeed Anwar and Yousuf Youhana which left Pakistan's cause hopeless.

Saeed pushed a ball to point and Youhana set off like a hare for the single. He was half-way down the pitch when Saeed, who had shown no interest in running, sent him back. Youhana turned, slipped and virtually gave up trying to regain his ground. If he deserved to be on a charge, it was for dawdling.

It is also being suggested the ACU will examine alleged ball-tampering by the Pakistan all-rounder, Shahid Afridi. Butt said: "Ball tampering again. It's all speculative."

The controversy was bound to arise. On the eve of the tournament, the ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed, conceded that it was a high-risk event. But the president, Malcolm Gray, said: "What has happened is remarkable. Only two years ago cricket lovers were in despair. Now it can be definitely said that we have eradicated the problem from the game, although we must not stop being vigilant."