Pak opener claims colleagues fixing ''almost every match''

Sun, Sep 05 10 06:37 AM

Prasun Sonwalkar London, Sep 5 (PTI) Pakistan opener Yasir Hameed has reportedly claimed that his teammates were allegedly involved in fixing "almost every match", even before the dust is yet to settle over the allegations of spot-fixing against three fellow players during the team''s tour in England. This is among the new revelations made by British tabloid News of the World, whose disclosures last weekend rocked international cricket over allegations of spot-fixing involving large sums of money. Hameed also reportedly claimed that he had been asked by a bookmaker to help fix a Test for 100,000 pound, but turned down the money. After the disclosure, Hameed could face disciplinary proceedings from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for violating its anti-corruption code of conduct which states that it is an offence if a player "fails to disclose to the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (without undue delay) full details of any approaches ... that would amount to a breach of the anti-corruption code". Three Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt -- have faced police investigation for allegedly delivering no-balls at pre-determined stages of the recent Lord''s Test at the behest of bookie Mazhar Majeed. The tabloid adds that it will be revealed how the ICC was now probing a fourth Pakistan touring player over "match- rigging claims". It is not naming this player for legal reasons. "The three suspended Pakistan players face a staggering 23 ICC charges between them - each charge runs to six pages... Pakistan Captain Salman Butt was warned five times about his responsibilities to report any irregular contact with outside agencies." The tabloid said its print edition will publish the "entire investigation starting in January this year including printing the transcripts of every meeting, conversation, email and text exchange". The ICC was investigating a fourth Pakistan player, who has not yet been named, over match-rigging claims, it said. The newspaper published details of the spot-fixing claims last weekend which led Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir to face police and ICC investigations. Hameed reportedly told the tabloid: "They''ve been caught. Only the ones that get caught are branded crooks. They were doing it [fixing] in almost every match. God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages. It makes me angry because I''m playing my best and they are trying to lose." The print edition is today expected to carry reports that investigators recovered between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds of marked bank bills from Butt''s hotel room.

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