Afridi claims approached by jailed agent Majeed
Majeed, along with former Test captain Salman Butt and two other players, was handed a prison term by a London court Thursday for their roles in fixing parts of the Lord's Test against England last year.
Afridi, who handed captaincy to Butt after losing the first Test to Australia on the same tour last year, said Majeed had tried to befriend him.
"He always tried to contact me personally in the hotel and wanted time to meet me but I avoided him all the time because I had my suspicions that he was not trustworthy and involved in betting," Afridi said in an interview with Express.
(Read: Spot-fixing verdict: No bitterness, says bookie’s brother)
Majeed during his testimony revealed "it was tough to lure Afridi."
Afridi also rejected Majeed's claims that some players were fixing matches under his captaincy.
"I never felt that any player was doing something wrong and deliberately trying to let me down. I would have been the first man to throw them out and deal with it strongly," said 31-year-old Afridi.
In London last week Butt was handed a 30-month sentence, Mohammad Asif 12, Mohammad Amir six and their agent Majeed 32 months respectively for their roles in the fixing affair.
The sentencing follows cricket bans handed down to the players at an International Cricket Council (ICC) disciplinary hearing in Doha, Qatar, in February this year. Butt was banned for ten years (five suspended), Asif for seven years (two suspended) and Amir for five years.
All three players have filed appeals against their bans at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Following last week's sentencing, Afridi said he felt sorry for 19-year-old Amir.
"Amir is a great talent and I believe because of his age he was trapped into this scandal," said Afridi of Amir, who was sent to youth offender's institution in Feltham, England.
Afridi was recalled to Pakistan's one-day squad to face Sri Lanka later this month, coming out of self-imposed retirement.
Afridi fell out with coach Waqar Younis and also with now replaced Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt after he was replaced as one-day captain in May this year.
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@Belal: Yes, I agree with your statement. Shahid Afridi had inner instinct/inner feelings & he sensed Majeed is not someone to be involved with. Thank Almighty Allah for gracing Shahid Afridi with sense to determine whom to be involved with and whom to stay away from :)
@ everyone asking why he didnt report this.
He just said he was approached my him in an agent capacity, not for any sort of fixing. Just because he suspected something is not enough to report to the ACSU!
Despite all his "outrageous" activities, no one can doubt Afridi for his honesty. That is an attribute we need to seriously value in this Country.
Why no one still doing enquiry about 5 catches dropped for Tendulkar during Worldcup Semifinal? Something wrong with our Players during that match also. Some bookies might have backed some players during that match. Lala should try to bring that secret out.
Any one thinks this is Normal to drop 5 catches that too for Tendulkar that too in WC Semis?
@scare: what his retirement is to do with the article here.You hate him because he has always been a tormentor for indian bowling attacks.indian people talk about morals in the sport bu when a player comes out unscathed over his integrity...u dont care to appreciate it. Why we indians are being so hypocritical and biased?sorry to say but we are more dumb that pakis when it comes to hate mongering.
@Ch Allah Daad: ur comments reek of bias. u should appreciate that among the rotten eggs he maintained hir dignity.
@Pakistanian: i dont understand what relation the subject has with retirement. comments should be on the topic...not doing so u only expose your insanity traits
SHAHID AFRIDI, The most selfish player ever in history of Pakistan Cricket.
While all this was happening nobody reported it to the media or authorities. In fact these cheaters particularly Kamran Akmal made sure that M. Yusuf loses his captaincy with Sydney test. That way, not only they fixed that match by giving 3 chances to just one player but also got rid of M. Yusuf. Consequently, they got Salman Butt as the new captain and it became an open season for all the criminals. I am surprised why nobody is talking about the conspiracy against M. Yusuf by these cheats and hardened criminals?
Despite all his performance, the recent statements of his will be considered as authentic as saying that caught balls in Australia look like an Apple or it's hard to differ smelling from biting.
The Bookies must had approached you to ask with what magic you keep on playing without doing anything.
Afridi sucks
Afridi Rocks!
And Mr. Afridi were you not required to report any such approach when it happened? Don't you think you deserve to be stopped from playing right away and an enquiry be held to get details?
I hope he would have convinced you not to retire on numerous occasions, only to come back as per your convenience!
Thanks alot for this wise man(!)