Refuting the claim of the British newspaper, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf has categorically said that he had no knowledge of an approach, to any Pakistani player, by bookies, during the series between Pakistan and England in the UAE in 2012. “No information was brought to my knowledge. I don’t think any such incident actually occurred there”, said Zaka Ashraf, while talking to this correspondent for News One TV. Pakistan whitewashed the English team in the Test series in 2012, followed by a crushing 4-0 defeat in the ODI series.
Mohsin Hassan Khan, the head coach and an integral part of the Pakistan team management then, declined to comment on the subject when approached. According to British media reports, Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal were approached separately about rigging the ODI series however the duo immediately refused and reported the approaches to the team management. Zaka Ashraf, who was present in UAE during that series, also urged the present management of the PCB to initiate a probe into the matter. “Why controversies arise mostly during Pakistan-England series? I think the PCB should hold a thorough inquiry into the latest allegation”, concluded Zaka Ashraf.