Former BCCI president IS Bindra has been asked to appear before an inquiry commission probing allegations of match-fixing in the Gulf venue of Sharjah.

The three-member commission, comprising former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, former director of United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Offences Unit George Staple and Director General of Criminal Security of UAE Brig Al Maulia, has asked Bindra to appear and explain his allegations that a match between India and New Zealand in Sharjah was fixed.

When contacted, Bindra told PTI on phone from Chandigarh that he had received a letter from the commission to appear before it in London on May 16 and 17. "However, I have some professional commitments during that period and I have written to them that I will be happy to meet them anytime after May 24. They are yet to get back to me with fresh dates," Bindra said.

The commission, set up by Emirates Cricket Board, has also summoned former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz who had alleged that the former chief co-ordinator of Cricketers Benefit Fund Series - organisers of cricket tournaments in Sharjah - was involved in match-fixing and that the venue was the hub of such activities.

CBFS had filed defamation suits against Sarfraz in a Pakistan court following his outbursts. The commission is yet to examine Asif Iqbal, former Pakistan captain, who quit his post in CBFS recently.

The commission was set up after International Cricket Council president Malcolm Gray had expressed his 'grave apprehensions' about Sharjah.

During the recent triangular one-day series in Sharjah, the commission interviewed Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya and Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi.

ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit chief Sir Paul Condon, who is heading a world-wide inquiry into match-fixing practices, was also present during the questioning which was conducted after the final match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The ECB commission wanted to question Inzamam-ul Haq too but he left for home soon after the final and was unavailable.

Pakistan Cricket Board Director of Operations Brig Munnawar Rana today clarified that there were no charges against any Pakistani player and Anwar and Afridi were interviewed only to ascertain information about general allegations of match-fixing in Sharjah in the past.

The commission has already prepared an interim report and submitted it to ICC.

Two other members of the Condon-led ICC team, which visited Sharjah during the tournament last month, Jeff Rees and Bob Smalley had also interviewed New Zealand players separately but the Pakistan team management had refused them permission to question their players.

© PTI