The investigation of Pakistan's tour of Australia by the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has come as a surprise to Cricket Australia. The ACSU's outgoing chief, Paul Condon, said on Thursday that Pakistan's tour during the past Australian summer was "a series that worried us".
Although Condon stressed there was no evidence of match fixing his comments inevitably caused speculation about the memorable Sydney Test, which Australia won despite beginning the final day only 80 runs in front with two wickets in hand. Pakistan collapsed in the chase and the result was hailed as a triumph for a developing Australia team.
"It's come as a total surprise to Cricket Australia," CA's spokesman Peter Young said of Condon's comments. "We're not aware of and have not been aware of any issues with the Sydney Test match. Our continuing view is that we came from behind and won the game on the merits of our on-field performance and through no other influence.
"[CA chief executive] James Sutherland will be writing to the ICC to seek a briefing. We do understand the ICC-ACSU protocol is that they don't talk to you, you are not aware an investigation is going on unless it involves one of your own players. They haven't asked us to help them with any of their questions or investigations and we'd be very surprised if they did.
"It is critically important that the public has total confidence in the integrity of the outcome of the sporting events they support. As such we are fully supportive of the ICC-ACSU philosophy. We're confident that it has done and continues to do a very good job."
Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed, Pakistan's coach and assistant coach during the tour, have raised questions of their own about incidents during the Sydney Test.
