Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq Saturday hit back at local media and rejected swirling match-fixing claims after his team's shock World Cup exit and the murder of coach Bob Woolmer.

A dejected-looking Inzamam, in his first press conference since the traumatic events, said it was "unfair" to talk about match-fixing after the defeat to Ireland which ended Pakistan's tournament.

"The team over the past three-and-a-half years had been playing and winning matches. There were no such comments. Now they are spreading such rumours," he said, referring to comments by former players.

Pakistan lost their opening match to the West Indies by 54 runs before a humiliating three-wicket defeat at the hands of debutants Ireland sent them crashing out of the World Cup on March 17.

The following day, Woolmer was found strangled in his hotel room.

Woolmer's death has sparked one of the most complex murder investigations in Jamaican history. It also triggered speculation about possible links to match-fixing and illegal betting in cricket.

The Pakistan team has been finger-printed and provided DNA samples, with Inzamam among three members of the entourage questioned twice over the affair.

A downbeat Inzamam lauded Woolmer's services, calling him "a great man and a very sincere and dedicated coach."

Inzamam announced his retirement from one-day cricket and relinquished the captaincy after the defeat.

"It was a difficult decision followed by a very difficult period in my cricket career," he said, taking responsibility for the loss.

"We did not perform well," he commented.

However, the thick-set Inzamam, 37, said he was hurt by subsequent comments in the local media.

"The media did not provide the support and encouragement the players needed. They picked all sorts of stories after the defeat," he said.

"I was blamed for everything as if I was running the cricket board and dictating the selection committee."

He also rejected criticism that the players had been too focused on religion after several of them grew traditional beards. The team does not indulge in any religious activity except saying prayers, he said.

"They were not involved in any activity which could affect its performance," Inzamam told the press conference.

Inzamam also criticised the Kingston pitch, saying that it was not suited for a one-day match.

"The wicket was very difficult for batting. It was a green-top pitch. I had never seen such a wicket in the World Cup," he said.

"The match became dependent on the toss. Unfortunately we lost the toss and Ireland used it to their maximum benefit."

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Nasim Ashraf said two senior police officers would leave for Jamaica on Monday to join investigations into Woolmer's murder.

"The Pakistani police team will cooperate with the Jamaican police," he said.

"I have no doubt that our players are innocent," he told a separate news conference in which a one-minute silence was held to pay homage to Woolmer.

"We are thankful to the Jamaican prime minister who expedited clearance of the team."

Ashraf said he would attend Woolmer's funeral in South Africa on Wednesday. "I will represent Pakistan and the PCB," he said.

He said a three-member committee of former cricketers had set up to look into the Pakistan team's World Cup fiasco.

"This inquiry team will evaluate performance of each player and submit a report after 30 days, he said.

PCB has suspended the players' contracts and new "performance based" ones would be signed by the players within 90 days, he added.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)