Pak players were in touch with bookies during T20 WC: sources

SPORT-FIXING-AUDIO

Karachi, Aug 29 (PTI) The Pakistani cricketers' cup of
woes seems to be spilling over as British detectives have got
hold of audio tapes in which some of them are heard discussing
'spot-fixing' with bookies during the Twenty20 World Cup in
the West Indies earlier this year.
Sources in the team in England have revealed that when
Metropolitan detectives questioned the Pakistani players
suspected of taking bribes from arrested bookie Majeed Mazhar
to do 'spot-fixing' in the fourth Test against England at
Lord's, they were also questioned about their telephone
conversations during the Twenty20 World Cup.
"The detectives have audio tapes confirming that some
players used to speak to Majeed in which they discussed spot
fixing in some World Cup games," a team source told PTI.
He also disclosed that Pakistan's one-day captain Shahid
Afridi had warned the touring team management to keep the
players away from Mazhar and Azhar Majeed on the current tour
of England.
The source said Afridi asked manager Yawar Saeed and
assistant manager Shafqat Rana to ensure the two brothers were
not allowed near the dressing room or the team hotel.
"Shahid told the management that he suspected Mazhar and
Azhar were linked to bookmakers and were corrupting players
particularly Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal," the source said.
The source said Afridi felt that the two brothers one of
whom, Majeed, who is now in the custody of the Metropolitan
police in London, was always in touch with the players.
"Yawar didn't pay heed," the source said.
The source said Afridi also decided to retire from Test
cricket after the first Test defeat to Australia at Lord's
because he was uncomfortable with the close ties some players
had with the two brothers.
"Maybe Shahid got a whiff of things to come and decided
to step aside," the source said.
The source said the influence of the two brothers was so
strong in the team that some players also didn't want Afridi
to continue as one-day and T20 captain after he retired from
Test cricket. PTI COR
RBT


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