While the Australian cricket team once again bagged the Champions Trophy Cricket 2009 title, held in South Africa, doubts are being voiced as to whether Pakistan deliberately lost its match against Australia in their last group match and against New Zealand in the semifinal. Public disappointment and suspicion aside, a parliamentarian of the Pakistan’s Lower House has openly claimed Pakistan’s defeat in the matches as deliberate.

As the Pakistani team started to lose its last group match to the Aussies, on Wednesday (September 30, 2009), many spectators in Pakistan thought that the Pakistani team had on their mind a deliberate defeat so as to make sure that its traditional rival India does not make it into the semis. The situation had been infused with intrigue since India, at that stage, was playing West Indies and could get a total of 3 points by beating the West Indians, something they did. And, if Pakistan would win against Australia in their last group match, Australia would have got a tie with India with both having 3 points in their group matches. However, Pakistan already had made it to the semis and in case of Pakistan’s defeat, Australia would move on to the semis (with 5 points) while India would be left packing for home. Pakistan gave Australia an easy target of 205 in 50 overs and played a slack game afterwards. Before the last moment of the match, people had already started speculating whether the Pakistani team was serious in winning the match, or losing it. In the latter case, the most convincing motive seemed shutting India out of the tournament.

But the unexpected and most disappointing performance of the team came in the second semi-final – between Pakistan and New Zealand – in Johannesburg on for Saturday, October 3, 2009. Batting first, Pakistan set a target of 233 runs for the Kiwis who crossed it in 47.5 overs while 5 wickets remained with them. Pakistani captain Younas Khan dropped an easy catch that could have sent Grand Elliot out on 42 runs. Weak fielding and poor batting were held responsible for the defeat. The spectators in Pakistan, in general, did not suspect any pre-determined strategy for a defeat at the hands of the Kiwis. Only later was the possibility of a deliberate defeat suggested, and now the jury is out.

The question of Pakistan’s poor performance, in two of the most important matches, as something concocted on purpose has been raised openly by parliamentarian Jamshed Dasti, chairman Standing Committee on Sports. He feels the need that the Pakistan Cricket Board provides an explanation of the disappointing performance in the two matches. The committee is entitled to give recommendations to the country’s topmost leadership – the President and the Prime Minister – and Dasti sounds like he means business this time. If pursued to the end, it will be one of the few times when the issue of dishonesty in sports will be taken to the highest presidency office of the country.