Spot-fixing by Pak players may be due to threat from bookies

Tue, Aug 31 10 10:52 PM

London, Aug 31 (PTI) Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has claimed that the current squad touring England may have been threatened by illegal bookmakers to get involved in the ''spot-fixing'' or else their families would be harmed. Lawson said that people have been quick to judge the Pakistani cricketers, but what is happening might have nothing to do with money. In his column in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, Lawson wrote: "If these allegations of fixing are proved, it could be related to extortion, threats, and the well-being of their own family members. It would not surprise me if illegal bookmakers have told players that if they do not perform X and Y, their families will be kidnapped or harmed." Pakistan''s current tour of England is under threat after allegations in ''The News of the World'' tabloid surfaced that seven members of the team were involved with illegal betting syndicates. The accused include captain Salman Butt, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and star bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer but Lawson has offered his support. The former Australia fast bowler, who coached Pakistan from July 2007 to October 2008, believes criminal organisations target players with non-financial ways of ensuring matches go according to a certain plan. "In my time as Pakistan coach, I gained some incredible insights into the workings of the country and the team, and I''ll never forget the time the team captain called me up to his room on the eve of a match. "Earlier that day, a player who we had not selected for the game approached me, saying: "I was told I would be playing tomorrow." My response was, "Well no, you''re not, you''ve obviously been given the wrong information." "Then the skipper of the side called me late in the evening. I went to his room and he was standing there with a very sombre-looking selector. "This selector said: "We must pick [the player who had earlier approached me], I have been told that if he is not in the team tomorrow, my daughter will be kidnapped and I will not see her again." "At first we both laughed, but then we realised he was being serious. Our chairman then called the president, Pervez Musharraf, who in turn phoned the people behind the threats and said they had better reconsider or else. The next we heard the matter had been resolved," Lawson said. (More) PTI SHN

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