Had Wasim Akram, Inzamam been hanged, there would’ve been no fixing: Abdul Qadir

Abdul Qadir said Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed were the ‘bigger’ culprits in the match-fixing scandal that had hit Pakistan cricket in the late-90s

Legendary Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir has said that the spot-fixing scandal that has rocked Pakistan cricket wouldn’t have taken place had former players suspected of being involved in match-fixing been hanged.

Wasim Akram was one of the many Pakistan players who had been accused of match-fixing in the 90s. (Getty Images)

Qadir, who was speaking in a TV show, said Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed were the ‘bigger’ culprits in the match-fixing scandal that had hit Pakistan cricket in the late 90s.

“Had you hanged Wasim Akram, Inzamam, Mushtaq Ahmed - there’s an entire list - instead of giving them a slap on the wrist, what’s happening now would’ve never happened,” a report in The Express Tribune quoted him as saying.

“Ataur Rehman and Salim Malik were made the scapegoats, and even they would’ve escaped if they carried cricketing value or were in their prime. The way of our country is to nab the smaller culprit and let the bigger one go,” Qadir added.

The former player also questioned why the report of Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum on match-fixing hadn’t been enforced.

“All of Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam and Mushtaq either currently work or have previously worked within the PCB. Why weren’t the recommendations of Justice Qayyum’s report enforced?”

At least five players have been named in an ongoing investigation into the spot-fixing scandal in Pakistan Super League (PSL). The players, Khalid Latif, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed and Shahzaib Hasan, currently remain suspended from playing competitive cricket.