Sport - Cricket

ICC has not done enough: Latif

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has said the International Cricket Council does not reward or protect a player who wants to blow the whistle on match-fixing and it’s wrong to target Shoaib Akhtar for his late disclosures on offers to underperform.

Latif said that neither the ICC nor its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) had not done enough to curb the menace of match-fixing.

“To me, the ACSU is basically a body, which is not initiative-based and their employees are simply leading a good life while failing to wipe out this menace from cricket,” Latif said.

The former stumper also sided with Akhtar who was quizzed by the ACSU officials after recently claiming that he had been approached in the past by bookies to underperform.

“They (ICC) are ready to take action against a player who does not disclose information but does the ICC or ACSU offer proper protection, rewards and show respect to players who come forward and reveal the truth?” Latif asked.

“They are talking about Shoaib Akhtar not disclosing the offers to him but why should any player come forward and reveal details about offers from bookies?,” he asked.

Latif said match-fixing still remained in the game, though in different forms.

“I have told them about this and also written about fancy fixing, and other methods being used to corrupt players,” he said.

He was of the view that players were more likely to fall prey to corruption in private leagues as national honour was not at stake there. — PTI

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