An official report into alleged match-fixing by Pakistan during the 1999 World Cup has cleared the team of any wrongdoing, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced. In a statement, the PCB said that it had made the report of the commission headed by Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari public and that it "absolved all the players and the team from all match-fixing charges during Pakistan's defeats against Bangladesh and India in the World Cup held in England in 1999. In its findings the commission has cleared the Pakistan team of match-fixing charges during the World Cup and the commission has said it does not require to take any action against the players."

The Bhandari commission was instigated following claims by Dr Ali Bacher, former chief of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, that he had been told that Pakistan's games against Bangladesh and India had been fixed. Over four months the commission questioned 50 people, including players, officials, bookmakers and journalists, although Bacher declined several invitations to travel to Pakistan to give evidence. Perhaps the most damning witnesses were Majid Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz who told the inquiry there was substance to the allegations, although their claims were categorically denied by everyone involved with the team.

The report dismissed the testimony of Sarfraz and Majid about the Bangladesh game as opinion. "They are former cricketers of repute and their analysis is entitled to respect," the report said, "but in order to hold that the match was fixed and, therefore, to condemn the players, the Commission required incriminatory evidence, which is completely lacking."

The commission was equally dismissive of allegations surrounding the India match, stating that there was "no credible evidence on the file". Justice Bhandari added, "Unlike Bangladesh, India is a stronger side, which has produced some outstanding cricketers over the years. Both the teams have been winning and losing matches against each other."

Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar told AFP he was relieved. "I think this report has cleared all doubts and allegation on Pakistan cricket," he said. "It's good for the nation, team and players."

Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia, chairman of the PCB, said the report should put an end to Pakistan's match-fixing controversy. "We are satisfied with the inquiry and after two comprehensive match-fixing inquiries we feel the match-fixing controversy in Pakistan cricket is buried."

Around 20 players - including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Moin Khan, Inzamam-ul Haq and Anwar - appeared before the Bhandari commission in October last year and denied the charges.

Pakistan's first match-fixing inquiry two years ago banned former captain Salim Malik and Ataur Rehman for life while Akram, Younis, Haq, Anwar, Mushtaq Ahmed and Akram Raza were fined.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd