I AM CLEAN: Hasan Raza has said that he wasn’t involved in any wrongdoings and is being trapped by people in fixing. PHOTO: AFP
Former Pakistan middle-order batsman Hasan Raza has rejected claims that he was involved in alleged spot-fixing after being caught on video in a sting operation by Al Jazeera.
Hasan, the youngest cricketer ever to play a Test match, was caught on camera along with former Indian cricketer Robin Morris during the sting operation.
The duo were previously members of the same team — Mumbai Champs — in the discontinued Indian Cricket League during 2007-08.
Sting reveals Hasan Raza’s alleged involvement in fixing
Raza was filmed sitting next to Morris, despite taking no active part in the conversation, with the latter discussing details about how to fix T20 matches.
But Raza, in an statement, rejected claims of his involvement in any wrongdoings.
“People are trying to trap me in this but I’ve not done anything wrong,” he said as quotes by Daily Express. “I was asked to help them in attaining the services of the players. All I did was tell those players to not get involved in anything wrong.”
Raza had earlier not responded when approached by Al Jazeera on the issue, while Morris said that the news channel invited him to act in a commercial movie for public entertainment and denies any wrongdoing.
Earlier, Al Jazeera had also alleged that the pitch curator in Galle, Sri Lanka, for the Tests against India in 2017 and Australia in 2016 had prepared the surfaces in accordance with the directions from a person involved in betting.
No 'credible evidence' of match-fixing: Australia
Cricket Australia said it wasn't aware of any "credible evidence" linking two of its players to match-fixing after a TV sting was aired by news channel Al Jazeera.
CA chief James Sutherland urged the Qatari broadcaster to hand over its footage to the International Cricket Council following Sunday's documentary, and pledged a full investigation if necessary.
"Although not having been provided an opportunity to view the documentary or any raw footage, our long-standing position on these matters is that credible claims will be treated very seriously and fully investigated," said Sutherland in a statement. "Cricket Australia will continue to fully cooperate with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit in its review of the matter. Neither the ICC or Cricket Australia is aware of any credible evidence linking Australian players to corruption in the game."
The Al Jazeera programme claimed pitches were doctored to achieve desired results at Galle International Stadium, where Australia lost all their 20 wickets and were beaten by Sri Lanka inside three days in 2016.
Al Jazeera also made match-fixing allegations against England in their innings defeat to India in Chennai, which England captain Joe Root described as "outrageous".
The documentary made reference to the 2016 Test between Australia and Sri Lanka, where it
The ICC have confirmed they were aware of the allegations.
Sutherland said CA and the ICC both adopted a "zero-tolerance approach against anyone trying to compromise the integrity of the game".
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