Shane Warne

Shane Warne’s accurate prediction of the India-England World Cup match ending in a tie has raised eyebrows in the Pakistan Cricket Board which is planning to discuss the Australian’s “strange” forecast in the next ICC board meeting.

“Doesn’t it sound strange that he should predict it would be a tie. At the next meeting of the International Cricket Council board we would certainly like this issue to be discussed,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters in Lahore.

Butt said the recent spate of controversies involving spot-fixing in international cricket meant that the tweet, made hours before the match, had to be discussed in detail.

Three of Pakistan’s top players – Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamer – were banned by the ICC last month for their involvement in spot-fixing on the tour to England last year.

Spot-fixing has been a hot topic in the ongoing World Cup as well with the Pakistan and Sri Lanka match and the Australia and Zimbabwe encounter being spoken about in this regard. Pakistan’s former Test pacer Sarfaraz Nawaz said he had no doubt spot-fixing was taking place in the World Cup.

“I have no doubt that spot-fixing remains an issue in this tournament and the bookmakers are trying to rope in some players,” Nawaz said. He said it was wrong to assume that only Pakistani players could be linked to bookmakers. “I think India is the hub of betting and fixing in cricket and the Indian bookmakers are again active in this World Cup,” he said.

Nawaz said the ICC anti-corruption unit officials needed to be very vigilant during the tournament. “It is better if the ICC anti-corruption officials start being open about which matches they are investigating so that this can discourage those involved in this menace,” he stated.

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