Melbourne, Aug 31 (IANS) Former Australian umpire Darrell Hair Tuesday revealed that International Cricket Council (ICC) had warned all the leading umpires a decade ago on Pakistani cricketers bowling deliberate no-balls.
Hair said he was not shocked when news of Pakistan spot-fixing broke out during the fourth Test match against England. The allegations centre on the timing of three no-balls delivered by Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif during the match.
British tabloid News of the World conducted a sting operation where its reporters filmed British match-fixer Mazhar Majeed accepting 150,000 pounds on their behalf for bowling no-balls.
‘It didn’t shock me at all. When the ICC’s anti-corruption unit was formed, they spoke to all the leading umpires and said there were concerns in tournaments in places like Sharjah, that the Pakistanis were bowling (deliberate) no-balls and wides,’ Hair was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
‘They also mentioned the possibility of strange dismissals. But they have not been able to get any proof.’
The Pakistan cricket team is caught up in match-fixing claims after News of the World in a sting operation alleged Pakistani players were involved in a betting scam in the fourth Test.
The British police arrested Majeed and later released him on bail.
–Indo–Asian News Service
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