KARACHI: Refuting a British newspaper claim, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has categorically said that he has no knowledge of an approach to any Pakistan cricketer by bookies during the 2012 Pakistan-England series in the UAE.

“No information was brought to my knowledge. I don’t think any such incident actually occurred there [during the 2012 series],” Zaka said while talking to a private TV channel on Sunday night.

Pakistan whitewashed the English team in the three-Test series in 2012. However, following the Test rubber Pakistan led by Misbah-ul-Haq lost the ODI series 4-0.

Meanwhile, former Test opener Mohsin Khan who was national head coach during the said series in the UAE, declined to comment on the subject when approached.

According to British media reports, Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal were approached separately for rigging the ODI series. However, the duo immediately refused and reported the approaches to the team management.

Zaka, who was present in the UAE during that series, also urged the present PCB management to initiate a probe into the matter.

“Why do controversies arise mostly during the Pakistan-England series? I think the PCB should hold a thorough inquiry into the latest allegation,” he said.—APP

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2014