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Imran decries inquiry into World Cup defeat

Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, in an article published today, blasted the government for ordering an inquiry into match-fixing charges against the national team for last's month crushing World Cup final defeat by Australia.

"By ordering the inquiry ... (prime minister) Nawaz Sharif has pandered to public hysteria that every time the national team lose there has to be some conspiracy,'' said Khan, who now leads the opposition Tehrik-e-Insaf (movement of justice) party.

Following the June 20 defeat, there has been a series of reports in the Pakistani press, accusing cricket stars of bad behaviour during the five-week international tournament in Britain.

''Having been there (in Britain) throughout the duration of the World Cup, I can confidently say that the team did not capitulate in the World Cup final due to casinos, womenising, drinking, match-fixing or late nights, but simply because they could not withstand the pressure of the big occasion,'' wrote the former Pakistani skipper, who led his country to victory in 1992 World Cup final.

Khan said the withholding of a judicial inquiry into match-fixing charges against some of the players until the World Cup final dangled as Damocles's sword over the heads of team members.

''The players must have felt as if a sword was hanging over their heads - if they win then they would be cleared, if not, then the verdict would go against them,'' Khan said.

DPA