The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday said its anti-corruption officer has interviewed Pakistani cricketers Younis Khan, Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul to gain “specific information” in Lahore this week.
The ICC, however, did not comment on whether the officer had also quizzed banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. The ICC said in a statement that its officer spoke to three players to seek specific information on some issue on April 5 and 6.
“The interviews took place in Lahore on 5 and 6th April. The purpose of these interviews was to seek specific information,” the statement said.
“The ACSU has confirmed that the information provided by the players,” it said.
The ICC also clarified the interviews were not in relation to any alleged breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. The statement said as a matter of policy the ICC does not comment on the specific details of the ACSUs investigations.
Meanwhile according to information, ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit Officer Alan Peacock had come down to Lahore to talk to Shoaib after the pacer claimed in a television interview that he was offered bagful of money several times to fix or under-perform in matches.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile according to information, ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit Officer Alan Peacock had come down to Lahore to talk to Shoaib after the pacer claimed in a television interview that he was offered bagful of money several times to fix or under-perform in matches.
{{/usCountry}}Shoaib mentioned the incidents taking place in South Africa and India but the Pakistan Cricket Board and other officials said the fast bowler had not reported any such thing to them as required under the ICC Code of Conduct.
Any player failing to report an approach can be banned for minimum one year and maximum five years.
Younis furious at being questioned
Karachi: It was on the intervention of chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed that Younis Khan decided to take field in the first one-dayer against Bangaldesh on Wednesday.
Khan had refused to take part in the ODI in Lahore after Alan Peacock of the ICC’s anti-corruption questioned Khan in connection with Shoaib Akhtar’s claims that he was offered money several times to underperform.
“Younis was very upset that manager Talat Ali had allowed the investigator to question him before an international match,” sources close to the batsman said.
“After the interview he was also not happy with some of the questions asked by Peacock regarding personal gifts given to players on the Indian tour,” the source confirmed.
Younis was more unhappy when the PCB said it could not do anything about an ACU investigation which would follow its course.
Younis did not leave for the ground with the team and told the manager that he was not playing.
“Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed had to intervene and convince him to play. Younis later agreed reluctantly but said in future he should be informed properly in advance by the board before being approached by anyone from the ACU,” the source said.
Latif sides with Shoaib, accuses ICC
Karachi: The ICC does not reward or protect a player who wants to blow the whistle on match-fixing and it’s wrong to target Shoaib Akhtar for his late disclosing of offers to under-perform, said former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif.
“To me, the ACSU is basically a body, which is not initiative-based and their employees are simply leading a good life while failing to wipe out this menace from cricket,” Latif said.
The former stumper also sided with Shoaib who was quizzed by the ACSU officials after recently claiming that he had been approached in the past by bookies to under-perform. “They (ICC) are ready to take action against a player who does not disclose information but does the ICC or ACSU offer proper protection, rewards and show respect to players who come forward and reveal the truth?” Latif asked.