April 04, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

KARACHI, April 3: The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption unit will talk to Pakistan’s banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar after he made claims he was offered money to under-perform in South Africa and India.

An ICC spokesman confirmed on Thursday that the unit’s officers would like to talk to Shoaib over the remarks he made after he was handed a five-year ban on Tuesday by the PCB for disciplinary violations.

“We are aware of his comments and let me reiterate the ICC has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in sports,” the spokesman said.

“Our ACU (anti-corruption unit) officers would like to talk to him soon.”

Sources in the ICC said officials would soon contact Shoaib as it was binding on players to disclose any approaches to bet on or fix matches.

Pakistan’s team manager Talat Ali said the fast bowler had not informed him or any other official about any approach being made in India on the recent tour.

“He didn’t report anything to me. This is the first I have heard about it,” Talat said.

The ICC Code of Conduct outlines a minimum ban of one year and maximum of five years for any individual who fails to disclose any approaches from another person to his captain or to his team manager or to a senior board official or to the ICC’s officials.—Reuters