PCB calls emergency meet, 4th player under ICC probe

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 camp preparing for today'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 today 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 team and the board officials to clarify his stance but was upset that the damage had already been done. 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. "Pakistans High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan is also involved in the meeting as is the Chairman of the board 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." Teammates fixed every game, Pak cricketer tells NOTW Pakistan Test opener Yasir Hameed has confirmed that his teammates fixed "almost every game" and claimed that he was dropped from the national team for two years because he did not go along with his corrupt colleagues. The British tabloid News of the World, which stirred international cricket with revelation of spot-fixing last weekend, today published a conversation between Hameed and its undercover reporter. It also published several more details of the spot-fixing saga. The tabloid reported that Hameed provided a "devastating insight into the shady world of betting scams" and added that he refused bribes of up to 150,000 pounds from a corrupt bookmaker to throw matches. Hameed claimed he lost his place in the team because of this refusal, while his corrupt colleagues reportedly splashed money on plush properties and expensive sports cars. He spoke to the tabloid in a Nottingham hotel, it said. "They've been caught. Only the ones that get caught are branded crooks. They were doing it (fixing) in almost every match. God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages. "It makes me angry because I'm playing my best and they are trying to lose. The guys that have got done have got themselves killed. They're gone - forget about them," Hameed said about the trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amer and Mohammad Asif. Hameed reportedly said pacer Mohammad Asif who has played around 50 matches has built four mansions. "Where did they come from? He has just built a house in Italian style in Lahore. You go there and you will think you are in Italy - that's how good his house is." "It's because of all these wrong things that I was outed, because I wouldn't get involved," the Pakistan opener said. "If you sat here and said, 'I'm a bookie and I want you to fix the match tomorrow' - I've met lots of people like that in the past and I refused. They offered me handsome money." "I could have come to see you in a Ferrari. They give you so much money that you can live out your dreams, buy a flash car. I've been offered huge amounts of money, up to 150,000 pounds," the cricketer said.

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