Pakistan cricket official confirms bookie’s approach to a player

sharjah — A top Pakistan cricket official on Saturday confirmed a team player was approached by a bookie with an offer of fixing which was reported to the anticorruption unit.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi said the matter was being dealt with by his board and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“A player was approached,” Sethi said on Twitter. “As per rules he immediately reported to PCB who informed ICC. Matters are jointly in hand. No further comment.”

Pakistani media said the player approached was skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and it happened on October 17 before the third ODI in Abu Dhabi a day later.

Reports said Ahmed had immediately reported the matter to PCB’s anti-corruption unit, who in turn informed the ICC.

Under the anti-corruption code a player must report a fixing offer and failure to do so can result in a ban of a minimum of six months. The maximum punishment is a life ban.

Pakistan lead the five-match series 4-0 after a thumping sevenwicket win against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Friday. The final match takes place in Sharjah on Monday.

Under ICC rules a player is interviewed by its anti-corruption unit to further investigate the matter, but the governing body does not make any comment on an ongoing investigation.

Pakistan cricket received a jolt in February when two of its players — Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif — were caught in a spot-fixing scandal which rocked their Twenty20 league.

Sharjeel was banned for five years (two and a half years of which were suspended) while Khalid was banned for five years and fined one million rupees ($10,000).—