Arthur told South African website News24 that his team
suspected match fixing when Pakistan collapsed dramatically to lose the fifth
and decisive ODI to South Africa in Lahore three years ago.
“There was a strong suspicion of match fixing and it took
some of the gloss off the series win,” Arthur said this week, according to
News24.
Needing 234 to win the series, Pakistan went from 149-2 and
209-6 to 219 all out. No allegations were made against the Pakistan team at the
time.
“We did not have any proof, but when you have been involved
in the game long enough you know when something is not right,” Arthur said. “How
else do you explain a batting side needing only 40 runs with seven wickets in
hand, and then losing?” Arthur's reported comments come as Pakistan and South
Africa face each other in the first of five ODIs in the United Arab Emirates on
Friday — the first one-day international between the countries since the Lahore
game.
Their Twenty20, ODI and two-Test series in the UAE is also
set to be overshadowed by allegations leveled at three current Pakistan
players, Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif, who have
been provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council on suspicion
of fixing parts of a test against England in August.
Butt and Aamir flew to Dubai on Friday to have their appeals
against their suspensions heard by the ICC. Asif temporarily withdrew his
appeal last week. They are accused of bowling no balls at predetermined times
in a Test at Lords in a spot-betting scam.
The ICC says it plans to hear the appeals on Saturday and
Sunday.
Arthur, who is now coach of Western Australia after he
resigned from the Proteas job in January, said the problems surrounding the
Pakistan team mean South Africa will win the current series with ease.
“Pakistan are at an absolute low and I can't see us having
any trouble beating them,” he said. “Our real test will come when we play
against India at home at the end of the year.” South Africa won both
series-opening T20 games this week.
