PCB stands by Younis Khan, Alam amid match-fixing allegations India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Pakistan Cricket Board has defended captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam, both whom are receiving flak from different quarters for the defeat against New Zealand in the semi-final match of the ICC Champions Trophy. PCB's media manager Nadeem Sarwar said the team tried hard and did well to reach the semi-final of the coveted eight-nation tournament for the first time and added that reports about the matches being 'fixed' were totally baseless. "The tried hard in every match but were unfortunate that they couldn't qualify for the final. All the members of the team wanted to win the title that Pakistan has never won in the past. It has been a one bad day against New Zealand," The Nation quoted Sarwar, as saying. The PCB has also rebutted reports regarding Khan and Alam's resignation. Pakistan's performance in the Champions Trophy has come under scanner with National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports Chairman Jamshed Ahmed Dasti's allegations that the matches against Australia and New Zealand were 'fixed'. The parliamentary committee on sports has summoned both Alam and Khan to explain the team's poor performance.