Most Pakistani cricketers are involved in match-fixing: Pak senator

In a statement which is likely to dent Pakistan cricket’s image further, senator Enver Baig has accused the national team players of being involved in match-fixing.

Baig, who was especially invited to a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Sports, asserted that match-fixing is the biggest problem in Pakistan cricket.

“The main problem in the Pakistan team is gambling and match-fixing. Most of the members of the Pakistan team are involved in it,” The News quoted Baig, as saying.

Baig also blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the sorry state of the sport in the country.

“The PCB committed a huge mistake by ignoring the findings of the Justice Qayyum report. They should have made it their top priority to eradicate this menace but it is a great misfortune that they didn’t which is why our cricket continues to suffer,” he said.

Pakistan cricket was hit hard in the nineties after some of its leading players were accused of match-fixing. Former captain Salim Malik was banned while several others were fined following an inquiry conducted by Justice Qayyum.

Terming the cash rich Indian Premier League (IPL) as a ‘den of gambling’, Baig said the PCB should not allow Pakistani cricketers to participate in the lucrative T20 tournament.

 “India has become a big bookie centre and the IPL especially is a gambling den. PCB should ensure that our players stay away from it,” he said.