KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters)
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has denied allegations of match-fixing during the 1999 World Cup at a judicial inquiry in Lahore High Court.

The Pakistan fast bowler also defended Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar, whose role in giving nine leg before decisions in a South Africa and England Test match at Headingley in 1998 is also being examined by the commission.

Akram said that former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Majid Khan and South Africa's Ali Bacher should be asked to substantiate allegations that Pakistan fixed two World Cup matches in 1999.

"I told the commission that since these two officials (Bacher and Khan) have made the allegations which have deeply upset the players and cast doubts over our performance in the World Cup, they should be asked to substantiate their allegations," Akram told Reuters from Lahore.

The Pakistan government ordered the inquiry into allegations that Pakistan played fixed matches against Bangladesh and India in the last World Cup in England.

The allegations first surfaced last year through Bacher, when he was managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). Bacher said Khan had given him the information.

"I asked the commission for how long were people going to be allowed to damage Pakistan cricket without any proof," Akram said.

"I also told the commission that Pakistan had lost the two matches because of different circumstances and conditions but overall its performance in the World Cup had been excellent."

Akram did not appear before the commission, headed by Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari, at its last hearing, saying neither he nor his legal adviser had received any summons.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd