Saeed rubbishes match-fixers meeting Pak team by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	Abdul Qadir, Sarfraz Nawaz
Event:	Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2009

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DateLine: 6th August 2009

 

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed denied reports that Indian bookmakers approached his players in Colombo.

 

The team manager also rubbished news doing rounds that match-fixing could be behind the team's Test and one-day debacle in Sri Lanka.

 

He said that he was flabbergasted by the statements of some former players who voiced concerns that some players might have fixed matches.

 

"I am very disappointed with these statements coming out of Pakistan at a time when the team needs the support of their former players and critics," Yawar said.

 

"It is absolutely rubbish that any match fixing could have taken place or that Indian bookmakers had approached our players. I would say to these people if they have any evidence of any sort of our players involvement in this heinous crime they should come forward with it and we will take exemplary action.

 

"But if they don't have evidence they should keep quiet," he said.

 

Pakistan's former chief selector Abdul Qadir and former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz had called on for an independent inquiry into match fixing allegations in Sri Lanka.

 

These allegations came to the fore after the Colombo hotel incident when Yawar reportedly complained to the hotel management that some Indians, were harassing the players and trying to make contacts with them.

 

The incident led to the PCB bringing the matter to the attention of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC representative in Sri Lanka is now inquiring into the matter.

 

"They were looking for autographs and pictures. They were invitations to have tea with the players. But that happens all the time and there is no evidence these people were bookmakers," he said.