ACU to quiz Shoaib over claims

Published April 4, 2008

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

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...