Afridi says ‘sorry’ for fixing scandal

Sep 05, 2010 |

Cardiff, Sept. 4: Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi apologised here on Saturday for the ‘spot-fixing’ row engulfing the tourists. Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have been charged with various offences under the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code and provisionally suspended, while the trio have all been interviewed by police.

The three were withdrawn by Pakistan from their Twenty20 and one-day series against England after being allegedly caught up in a plan to deliberately bowl no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s last week.

“I think this is very bad news,” Afridi told reporters at Cardiff here on Saturday, where the first of two Twenty20 internationals against England takes place on Sunday.

“On behalf of these boys — I know they are not in this series — I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all the cricketing nations.”

Team manager Yawar Saeed said on Friday he was “not happy” about the situation but was trying to focus on his duties ahead of the forthcoming two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day games against England. The team was due to train in Cardiff on Saturday ahead of their first Twenty20 fixture in the Welsh capital on Sunday. Meanwhile, England Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood said the Sunday of the last Test, when the allegations emerged, was “one of the lowest points” he had experienced as a cricketer.

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