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ISLAMABAD: Players of Pakistan cricket squad in the United Arab Emirates are under the surveillance of federal government officials who are staying close to the team for keeping an eye on them to ensure the 2010 spot-fixing scam is not repeated, Dawn has learnt reliably.
“The cricketers in the UAE are under the close observation of federal government officials. Since it [England] is the same team against which the national team had to face embarrassment in 2010, and so we don’t want a repeat of match-fixing scam that resulted in the conviction of [three] Pakistan cricketers,” said an official close to the development.
The official added that the national team is staying in a Dubai hotel where (Dubai) police is also assisting them.
“The players have also been advised to remain in close coordination with team officials and not to meet strangers during their stay at the hotel or anywhere else [in the UAE],” the official maintained.
After the spot-fixing scandal that erupted in August 2010, the International Cricket Council (ICC) made the game’s authorities in Pakistan establish an integrity committee to look into players’ assets, primarily to avoid corruption in the sport.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), a month after three top players — captain Salman Butt, and pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Asif — were imprisoned over spot-fixing in Lord’s Test against England, created ‘vigilance and security division’ to counter corruption.
Pakistan’s 2010 series in England was overshadowed by spot-fixing allegations against the trio, leading to their conviction in a London court over conspiracy to cheat. The three players were later sentenced under the British law in late 2011.
Meanwhile, several attempts were made to get PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf’s version on the current development, but he was not available.
The chairman also did not respond when a message was texted to ask him whether the team is under surveillance of federal officials.
In a recent media statement, the PCB chairman had said that strict measures would be taken “so that our players, wherever they are, don’t get in touch with people who try to drag them into such negative activity.”
A phone call was also made to chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed, but it did not receive response.
