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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
KARACHI, APRIL 13: Former Pakistani cricket captain Rashid Latif today accused unnamed players in the national team of involvement in match fixing, citing the defeat at Sharjah against England.
``I suspect match fixing as they threw away the match at Sharjah on Monday,'' the 30-year-old Latif said. ``It is unbelievable the way Saqlain got out,'' he told AFP.
``The guys are once again trying to make fools of public. The way they lost the match, it is obvious something fishy has again started in the team,'' Latif said, without naming any player.
He said Saeed Anwar did not play in two recent matches, in which the national team was defeated by Sri Lanka in India and by England in Sharjah, because he ``may not have wanted to be part of match fixing.''
``I am not saying this because I am out of the team, I am only repeating my earlier apprehensions,'' he said.
The wicket-keeper-batsman said he believed he was punished because of his ``courageous stance'' over match fixing and bribery. ``I will never letthe game I have loved so much be polluted. It is sacred for me and I want it to be pure, like an angel,'' he said, hoping he can make a comeback.
Latif was made captain in 1997, but after the team's poor performance he was discarded.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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