One-day series 'devalued' by allegations

England will continue with the one-day international series against Pakistan which their coach Andy Flower said was "devalued" by the ongoing spot-fixing crisis.

The England and Wales Cricket Board had to take urgent action to ascertain there was no pressing reason to abort the NatWest Series, with two matches still left to play.

Those fixtures were in grave doubt for several hours, after the International Cricket Council announced they were launching an investigation into newspaper allegations that passages of play in yesterday's match at the Brit Oval were fixed.

The ECB requested details from the world governing body as to whether the evidence immediately to hand was sufficiently strong and specific to justify calling off the remainder of a series which stands 2-1 to England.

They also convened a meeting of their own to discuss the matter, in light of the information supplied by the ICC, and concluded the series should go ahead as scheduled - at Lord's on Monday, and the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

Crucially, it appears, the ECB were also assured no England player was linked to allegations that "a certain scoring pattern" in Pakistan's innings was already known to bookmakers before it became reality.

Meanwhile the Pakistan Cricket Board have issued a statement criticising the handling of the spot-fixing allegations by their sport's world governing body.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been quoted bemoaning the extra pressure his players are being put under for the remainder of the five-match one-day international series by public statement on allegations yet to be proved.

The PCB have added they are "extremely perturbed by the recent allegations of corruption in the third ODI between England and Pakistan".

They added in their statement: "PCB regrets the way these allegations have been handled - as being a full member of ICC, it only came to know through media that investigations will be conducted by ICC.

"PCB feels that ICC should repose more confidence in its members. PCB further condemns sensationalising of these allegations, which are harming cricket in general and Pakistan in particular."