Pak envoy, team members, PCB call emergency meet
PCB officials, Pakistan envoy to UK and members of team management huddled for a emergency meeting as a British Tabloid came out with another set of revelations that a fourth player is under ICC probe for spot-fixing.
The Pakistan camp preparing for Sunday's T20 encounter with England in Cradiff was rocked by the statement which said that a fourth Pakistani player — not named for legal reasons — was also under investigation for spot fixing.
Much to the team's worry, News Of The World in a statement said it will appear with transcripts, CCTV footage, text messages and photographs in a special 18-pages edition on Sunday that would confirm the involvement of Pakistani players match-rigging activities.
Furthermore, former Test opener Yasir Hameed's confirmation that his teammates fixed "almost every game", forced the officials to sweat in the cool weather of Cardiff. However, he denied having given any interview with the tabloid.
"I am deeply disturbed because I never gave any interview to this newspaper and I never said such things," he said.
Yasir, who played 25 Tests and 56 ODIs, said he was trying to speak to the Pakistan team and the board officials to clarify his stance but was upset that the damage had already been done.
Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed when contacted in Cardiff said he could not speak as he was attending a meeting.
Sources in the team said the meeting was being held in view of the revelations to be made today by the newspaper and the effect they would have on Pakistan cricket.
"Pakistan’s High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan is also involved in the meeting as is the Chairman of the board, Mr Ijaz Butt," a source said.
In the last one week, Pakistan cricket has been rocked by the spot fixing and betting allegations against Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who were suspended by the International Cricket Council and are under investigation by the Scotland Yard.
Former captain Aamir Sohail said Pakistan cricket was facing one of its worst crisis and unfortunately the board was unable to handle the situation properly.
"They have mishandled it from the start and instead of going on the offensive against the ICC have been passive. The ICC should be questioned how this spot fixing issue has happened when Rashid Latif in 2003 warned them to be careful and was willing to work on the anti-corruption unit."
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