Paki star 'rejected' spot-fixing approach

Pakistan's Babar Azam (right) celebrates 100 runs with Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed during the first one day international (ODI) cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 13, 2017. PHOTO | GIUSEPPE CACACE |

What you need to know:

  • The wicketkeeper-batsman reported the incident to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the time.
  • The news of a Pakistani player approached for fixing made headlines before the fourth match of a series the nominal hosts won 5-0.

ABU DHABI

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed said on Wednesday that he was the Pakistan player who was approached by an alleged bookie during the one-day international series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.

The wicketkeeper-batsman reported the incident to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the time.

The news of a Pakistani player approached for fixing made headlines before the fourth match of a series the nominal hosts won 5-0.

The PCB confirmed on Saturday that an unnamed player was approached with an offer but promptly reported the matter to its anti-corruption unit.

The PCB said the incident was conveyed to the ICC, whose anti-corruption unit interviewed the player.

Sarfraz will lead his side in a three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka starting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

"Obviously I did my job of informing, but I was not scared when I informed about it," said Ahmed when he was asked if he feels under pressure because of the incident.

"I did become scared after I saw myself on the television. There was so much talk about it on the television that I got scared.

"By the grace of Allah everything is getting normal. When you are going into a series you need to be normal and everything is going good so far."

Pakistan cricket was hit by a fixing scandal during the second edition of the Pakistan Super League earlier this year that saw Pakistan openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif banned for two-and-a-half and five years respectively.

The most infamous spot-fixing incident to hit Pakistani cricket came on the 2010 tour of England, when then-captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were all given prison sentences for consipiring to bowl deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test at Lord's.