Pakistani cricketer foils spot-fixing bid during Sri Lanka series

ABU DHABI: The spot-fixing mafia reared its ugly head once again during the ongoing Pakistan-Sri Lanka series in UAE and tried to approach an “important” member of the Pakistan team, sources close to the matter revealed.

The mafia’s malicious intentions, however, were shot down immediately by the cricketer in question, who reported the approach to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) and foiled the attempt to corrupt the game.

ACU officials confirmed to this correspondent that the said cricketer, who is an important member of the squad, was approached by a bookie from an international fixing syndicate who made him a spot-fixing offer.

The cricketer was gripped with worry and reported the approach to the PCB’s ACU immediately, after which ACU officials further tightened the curfew measures, even though already strict measures are in place to prevent such approaches.

Prior to the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series, there were reports that bookies were intending to approach players, in view of which the ACU team was already on alert and had tightened curfew timings for the team, the sources disclosed. 

Pakistan play Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI today at Sharjah. They have already sealed the five-match ODI series 3-0.

Originally published in Jang