Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has once again fuelled match-fixing allegations against former teammates Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. Pakistan cricket had plunged into one of its many crisis in recent years when fast bowlers Aamir, Asif and batsman Salman Butt were banned for spot-fixing in 2011.
Akhtar, not one to mince words, during a talk show, revealed how the news of match fixing from the three players left him irate.
“I was playing against 21 people – 11 theirs and 10 ours,” Akhtar said during an episode of Rewind With Samina Peerzada. “I was always of the belief that I can never cheat Pakistan, no match-fixing but I was surrounded by match-fixers. No one knew who the match-fixer was. There was so much match-fixing. Asif told me which all matches they had fixed and how they did it.”
Akhtar said he was livid when he came to know that Aamir and Asif had indulged in corruption during a Test against England.
“I tried to make Aamir and Asif understand. What a waste of talent. When I heard about this, I was so upset that I punched the wall,” said the 44-year-old retired pacer. “Pakistan’s two top bowlers, smart, intelligent and the two perfect fast bowlers were wasted. They sold themselves for a little money.”
Of the suspended trio, only Aamir managed to make a successful comeback to international cricket. He was instrumental in Pakistan winning the 2017 Champions Trophy, beating India in the finals before announcing his retirement from Test cricket earlier this year. Amir was also a part of the Pakistan team during the 50-over World Cup in England.
