South Africa suspected Pakistan of match-fixing in 2007, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mickey-Arthur-c1969
Former South Africa coach, Mickey Arthur, suspected Pakistan was involved in match-fixing in the home ODI series in 2007. Arthur in an interview said that his side suspected some match-fixing factor involved when Pakistan’s team collapsed
surprisingly to lose the final and decisive one-day to the Proteas in Lahore three years ago.
"There was a strong suspicion of match-fixing and it took some of the gloss off the series win", Arthur said.
In the Lahore ODI, the hosts needed 234 to win the five-match one-day series. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s side was all set on its way to an easy victory with 149 for 2 on the board. But the side at 209 for 6 was dramatically rolled over by the South African
bowlers for 219. No spot-fixing allegations were leveled against the losing Pakistan side by the Cricket http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 at the time.
"We did not have any proof, but when you have been involved in the game long enough you know when something is not right", Arthur said. "How else do you explain a batting side needing only 40 runs with seven wickets in hand, and then losing?"
Arthur's comments came on the day both teams are set to face off in the opener of the five-match ODI series at the neutral venue of Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, the first One Day International (ODI) between Pakistan and South Africa
since the Lahore game suspected by Arthur.
Pakistan’s ongoing tour of UAE, in which the side will be playing all three forms of cricket, is also set to be overshadowed by the spot-fixing allegations leveled against its former Test captain Salman Butt, and, bowlers Mohammad Asif,
and Mohammad Amir. All three players have been provisionally suspended by the ICC.
Butt and Amir are in Dubai to appear in a two-day hearing before the ICC tribunal. Asif had also filed a petition against suspension but has temporarily withdrawn his appeal last week. The hearing will take place on Saturday and Sunday and
Michael Beloff, the head of the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission, will hear the case.
Arthur, who is currently coaching http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Western-Australia-c865 after he stepped down as South Africa’s coach earlier in January, feels that the controversies embroiling the Pakistan cricket mean the Proteas will win the ODI series quite comfortably.
"Pakistan are at an absolute low and I can't see us having any trouble beating them", he said. "Our real test will come when we play against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 at home at the end of the year".
South Africa has won both T20 games and subsequently the series this week.
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