PCB considering legal action against tabloid

The PCB is considering taking legal action against The Sun after the ICC found nothing untoward in an ODI the tabloid claimed was influenced by bookies.

The newspaper had passed on information to the ICC ahead of the third ODI at The Oval between England and Pakistan in September, claiming that bookies were aware of certain scoring patterns during the game, which Pakistan eventually won by 23 runs.

The ICC announced an investigation into the claims, and though it was careful not to mention which team was under suspicion, the ECB cleared its own players soon after in a statement, leaving suspicion to hang on to Pakistan; this backed up the newspaper's claim that Pakistan's innings was under investigation. The incident led to Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, launching an attack on the ECB, the English team as well as the ICC, claiming there was a "conspiracy to defraud Pakistan cricket."

The ICC eventually cleared Pakistan, claiming two weeks ago that "there was no compelling evidence of any wrongdoing," though it is believed useful leads have been gleaned from the match for investigative purposes.

"From day one our stance has been that we would consider legal action for defamation and now with this development [the ICC clearing the match], we are looking at the legal field," Taffazul Rizvi, the board's legal advisor told ESPNcricinfo. "We believe The Sun has a case to answer because they did it in such a bald and crude manner, so we're in consultation with our lawyers in the UK about this. We will look at the whole picture before we decide on taking the legal route but it is under consideration."

The ICC, with whom the PCB has threatened a legal battle in the past, is not, however, the target of any action by the PCB.