Match-fixing Claims : Akhtar in Trouble with ICC

Source: - www.hindustantimes.com

Shoaib Akhtar's claims about being approached by match fixers in India and South Africa may land the banned pacer in another tight spot for not reporting these instances to his team management as required by the ICC Code of Conduct.

Akhtar, in an emotional outburst during a television talk show on Wednesday, alleged that some people had approached him to under-perform in Johannesburg and India but he had turned down their offer for the sake of his country.

"I turned down these offers because I can't betray my country. Does this not show how committed and disciplined I am towards my team and country," he said while terming the five-year ban imposed on him for disciplinary violations as unjustified.

The claim could land him in further trouble as the updated ICC Code of Conduct requires an active international player to report immediately any such approach/incident to the captain, team manager, cricket board or anti-corruption unit officers of the ICC.

The ICC Code of Conduct clearly outlines a minimum ban of one year and maximum five years for any individual who fails to disclose such approaches to his captain or to his team manager or to a senior board official or to the ACU and security unit.

Apparently Akhtar did not report these instances with team manager Talat Ali, who said he was not informed of any such approach by the maverick pacer on the recent tour of India.