LAHORE, Jan 3 (APP): Pakistan’s limited overs captain, Shahid Afridi has made it clear that he will stick to his earlier statements which he had already recorded to games ruling body the ICC in the spot fixing case when he appears before the ICC’s anti corruption tribunal on January 6 at Doha.“Whatever I have earlier said on the issue of spot fixing involving our three players, I will stick to it because I believe ICC has enough information about the incident and there is nothing to hide on my part”, he told reporters here on Monday after a meeting with Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board,Muhammad Ijaz Butt at Gadaffi stadium.Afridi was summoned by PCB Chief to have his input on finalising Pakistan’s probables list for the one-day series against New Zealand.
He dispelled any impression that he had spoken against these three players,Salman Butt,Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir.
“ It is wrong to say so that I have given any statement against them,whatever I saw on the field I recorded it in my statement at that time “,he added.
“I did not lie to ICC at the time when I was asked to record my statements when this incident happened during the tour of England this summer and I will speak truth as there is nothing to hide on my part, ICC has enough information on the issue and they know a lot on the basis of that information “,he asserted.
Pak limited over captain expressed his sympathies with the tainted trio of former test captain, Salman, pacers duo of Asif and Amir who have been accused of spot fixing.
“ They have gone through hard times and still they experiencing the same and Pakistan cricket also suffered due to that ,they are like my younger brothers and I pray for them and for Pakistan cricket as well “,he said.
Afridi and coach Waqar Younis have been asked to appear before the ICC’s anti corruption tribunal hearing the case and both of them will appear before it either in person or through tele conference depending on their convenience and subject to their professional commitments.
He said he had a good meeting with Chairman PCB and discussed the list of pobables and he gave his input on it.
“ It was a good meeting in which possible combination of players for the team was discussed in length for one day series against New Zealand and I was of the opinion that Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal should be a part of the team because they are experienced cricketers and they can lift the overall performance of the team”,he said.
“But I don know what PCB integrity committee is going to decide in their case as a decision is expected soon in this regard but I feel they deserve to be in the one day squad “,he said.
When pressed Afridi said he may not to able to travel to Doha because of his ailing wife – App
