A Pakistan player concealed a mobile phone inside the helmet he was wearing as he waited to bat during a recent international match, one of his team-mates has alleged.
By Scyld Berry
Published: 11:00PM BST 04 Sep 2010
Man in the middle: alleged breach of the anti-fixing laws reported to the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit headed by Sir Ronnie Flanagan Photo: AFP A former Pakistan Test cricketer, who was told of the incident by this player's team-mate, has passed on the allegation to the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit. The use of mobile phones by players is strictly forbidden anywhere on the ground during an international match under ICC regulations designed to prevent communication between match-fixers and players.
The former Test cricketer, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said he rang the ACSU hotline after being told recently of the claim by the current Pakistan player. The phone was hidden inside the right earpiece of the helmet of the player waiting to bat, he alleged.
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Afridi issues shock apology "My reaction was one of disbelief," the former Test cricketer said on Saturday. "I had reason to suspect things were going on in international cricket, and you never had total confidence in certain games because of the rumours about match fixing and spot fixing. But when I was told about this player with the mobile inside his helmet, I was flabbergasted."
This revelation comes at the end of perhaps the most disturbing week cricket has seen in England, following last Sunday's newspaper allegations of spot fixing by three Pakistan players in the Lord's Test. Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were all provisionally suspended by the ICC on Thursday evening after allegations of bowling deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test between England and Pakistan. They were questioned by police in London on Friday but were released without charge.
This afternoon the first of two Twenty20 internationals between England and Pakistan is due to take place in Cardiff. But officials from the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board were braced for further revelations last night by the News of the World which might put the series in jeopardy.
On Saturday, the Pakistan one-day captain, Shahid Afridi, apologised on behalf of Butt, Asif and Amir. "I think it is very bad news," he said in Cardiff. "I think on behalf of these players – I know they are not in this series – but on behalf of these boys I want to say sorry." He added that he had not spoken to them and had not asked if he could apologise on their behalf.
Meanwhile, the legal adviser of the Pakistan Cricket Board says the three suspended players have acknowledged the businessman at the centre of the fixing claims, Mazhar Majeed, is their agent – but have denied knowledge of any alleged wrongdoing by him. The News of the World accused Majeed last weekend of accepting money in exchange for organising Asif and Amir to bowl no-balls.
PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi also said on Saturday that the three would have to fight their cases on their own if they appeal against their suspension.
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