Former Pakistan fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed has accused the Indian Cricket League (ICL) of not paying him the promised money, saying the rebel T20 league has ‘ripped’ him off.
Ahmed, who last played for Pakistan in 2007 in Johannesburg, came down hard on the ICL for its false promises.
“The first season at Chennai Superstars was fantastic. However, during the second season we all started to sense there were problems when our payments were not being made. I carried on playing in the hope that eventually I would get paid, but the money never appeared. As far as I am concerned they have ripped me off,” Ahmed told PakPassion.net.
When asked about how much money the ICL owed him, he said: “I can''t disclose to you how much I am owed but let me tell you that I have received absolutely nothing for the whole of the second season and I''m very upset and hurt by all this.”
Ahmed said he has plenty of cricket left in him and would love to have another stint with the national squad, as he has obtained the no objection certificate (NOC) from the ICL.
“I''m 33 years old now, but I am as fit as some of the youngsters and believe I can still play international cricket but then its down to the selectors to decide if they want to pick me, now that I have received by NOC,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“I''m 33 years old now, but I am as fit as some of the youngsters and believe I can still play international cricket but then its down to the selectors to decide if they want to pick me, now that I have received by NOC,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Ahmed started his career with a bang taking loads of wickets in the initial games he played. However, he was banned for an year because of a suspect bowling action.
“I believe I have a clean bowling action, and the concerning authorities have already cleared it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ICL has not responded to Ahmed’s allegations regarding outstanding payments.