DUBAI — Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis Friday brushed aside British tabloid claims of match-fixing against his team in their six-wicket defeat in the third One-Day International against England in Sharjah earlier this week.
British tabloid Daily Mail alleged the match Tuesday was under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit of the International Cricket Council (ICC) over unusual patterns of betting.
The newspaper claimed the investigators were tipped off before the match that Pakistan would underperform in the game and that three run-outs, casual dismissals of batsmen and sloppy fielding were suspicious.
Pakistan was bowled out for 208 on a flat pitch, with skipper Azhar Ali, Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik run out.
Asked whether he was aware of the allegations, Waqar said: "I am not aware of that, but I have been hearing about this here and there about this but I am very clear about the Pakistan team and the boys.
"There is nothing wrong with the game."
England chased down the target after being 93-4 at one stage for a six-wicket win to take a 2-1 lead.
It took the fourth and final match Friday by 84 runs for a 3-1 series win.
Waqar said Pakistan's defeat in Sharjah had been unfortunate.
"Yes, we lost the game. You lose and win games, and it's unfortunate the way the whole thing happened but I have no doubts in my boys and I am very satisfied."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan had raised doubts over the Sharjah match with tweets which were later deleted.
"3 run outs and a few iffy shots for Pakistan ... Never seen that before," tweeted Vaughan before adding: "They must think we are stupid. I hate the fact we watch cricket with so much suspicions ... it shouldn't be that way."
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan criticized Vaughan for his tweets.
"I think he has given a very wrong statement," said Khan Friday. "It's very wrong and it's necessary to give our reaction and we will raise this matter with the ICC.
"Although he later deleted those tweets, the damage was done."
Pakistan has been embroiled in fixing scandals in the past.
Jos Buttler's record-breaking century and a more routine one from Jason Roy fired England to a big win over Pakistan in Dubai Friday.
England piled up 355-5, thanks to Roy's maiden ODI hundred and Buttler's magnificent 116 not out off 52 balls.
Pakistan scored quickly in reply but lost wickets steadily and was all out for 271 in the 41st over.
Buttler's extraordinary knock came after being promoted to bat at No. 4 at the end of a year in which he often struggled for runs.
His century off 46 deliveries broke his own England record and he hit eight sixes — another national best — and 10 fours. It was the joint seventh fastest hundred in one-day international history.
"It was really satisfying for me and for us to win the series with this group of guys was fantastic," Man-of-the-Series Buttler said at the presentation ceremony.
"It was one of those days — it's amazing how cricket turns round. Only a few weeks ago I had a bad Test on this ground and got dropped from that side."
"The series is a big loss — we played some bad cricket, we should have done a lot better," Ali said.
"Credit to Buttler, but we could have done a lot better in the last few overs."
The teams now play a three-match Twenty20 series, starting in Dubai Thursday.
Scores: England 355-5 (J. Roy 102, A. Hales 22, J. Root 71, J. Buttler 116 not out; Irfan 2-64, Ali 2-26).
Pakistan 271 all out in 40.4 overs (Azhar Ali 44, M. Hafeez 37, B. Azam 51, S. Malik 52, S. Ahmed 24 A. Ali 24; Willey 2-34, Moeen 3-53, Rashid 3-78). — Agencies
