‘GOOD MONEY IN CRICKET REMOVES TEMPTATION’

FORMER Pakistan captain and match-fixing witness Aamir Sohail (left) has welcomed the deluge of legitimate money into cricket that has seen players

make millions in tournaments, saying it reduced temptation for corruption.

Sohail played between 1990 and 2000, far too early to benefit from the T20 revolution begun by the Indian Premier League (IPL).

But the 55-year-old, who was a whistleblower – a term he dislikes – in Pakistan’s 1990s match-fixing controversy, said the money was beneficial for the sport.

“It’s good that players are getting good money nowadays,” said Sohail, who played 47 Tests and 156 ODIs.

“Temptations are there but of late we haven’t

had any news of wrongdoing. So if things are under control and cricketers are getting legitimate money, I think that’s very good for the game.”

Former Pakistan captain Salim Malik was banned for life for match-fixing, and pace bowler Ataur-Rehman for perjury, after the country’s cricket board set up a judicial commission to investigate revelations by several players, including Sohail, of match-fixing.

Sohail added that current players should not be complaining about too much cricket.

“The contemporary cricketer, if he is aspiring to play top level of the game, should be prepared for its demands,” said Sohail, a left-handed opener who was key in Pakistan’s 1992 50-over World Cup triumph.

“Your level of fitness and the hunger should match up to the level of playing for your country.”

He also lauded Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for showing the way to the country’s new generation of players with his work ethic and prolific run-scoring.

“Babar has proved himself with his performance,” said Sohail. “Now he has to live up to those expectations that he has set from his batting and keep on improving.”

Azam, 27, has an average of over 45 in 40 Tests and recently hit 196 in the second Australia Test, which ended in a draw. Pakistan lost the series 1-0.

Sohail rates the current Pakistan Test team as full of talent but said the fast bowlers need to develop new methods to make the old ball more effective when reverse swing is not available.

“They are good with the new ball, good in the middle overs if it’s reversing but when it’s not reversing then they haven’t got anything new,” he said.

“If our fast bowlers learn the art of working with the old ball then our team will go a long way with the kind of talent we have.”