Sports

'I believe the players are innocent'

Pakistan High Commissioner says players are 'deeply disturbed' by the allegations leveled against them.

Shaheryar Popalzai September 02, 2010

LONDON: Pakistan's High Commissioner in the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has said that he believes the three players alleged to be involved in the match fixing scandal are innocent.

Wajid Shamsul Hasan was speaking to the media outside the Pakistan High Commission on Thursday, where he said that the players were 'deeply disturbed' by the allegations leveled against them and because of the mental anguish caused by the reports, the players have requested that they not play the next few matches.

He said the players wished to clear their names first and then continue playing.

Answering a question regarding the ongoing investigation, the High Commissioner said that the players were 'here, innocent and not running away.'

COMMENTS (14)

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @rizwan, "...rather than constantly scheming against us." --> Yes, the govt of India is actively backing Booking sydicates to 'trap' or 'brainwash' Pakistani players into accepting money to cheat for their country! RAW and Terrorist Hindu groups train bookies and journalists how to brainwash and make Pakistani players cheat when in fact they are honourable code, guided by their Pathan Captain who follows the Pakthunkwa code. In that code, its allowed for the Captain to chew on the ball in front of whole world and embarrass his country.

kamal | 13 years ago | Reply Mr rizwan,"bookies are Indian" agreed but they are bookies they are not cricketer.Why are you comparing an India bookies(a criminal) with pakistani Cricketer(so called hero).Are they same?

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Anwar | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. High Commissioner: If you have evidence to prove their innocence show it. Otherwise stay quiet

Abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply I think football is much beter than cricket. I think we have to make football our natioanl game and play international matches with help of FIFA

Yusaf Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Until News of the World proves that the tape was recorder BEFORE the test I will assume that the players have been a victim of a conspiracy. If it is proven that these players took part in such activities then they should be banned. I am further alarmed that the bookie, Mazhar, have been released on bail by Scotland Yard. I mean why isn't he in jail? after all other than illegal gambling he has definitely been involved in money laundering (acknowledged by him in the video) and fraud (his work defrauding the council and the FA regarding Croyden FA). What does one have to do to go to jail in the UK?

Majid | 13 years ago | Reply Just to update you - another article in The Guardian newspaper about News of the World illegal activities - I think the Pakistan delegation and cricketers should make the ICC comment on the newspapers ILLEGAL activities - as it was the source of the betting scam -here is a link to the most recent article - http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking - News of the World faces fresh phone hacking charge - written by Nick Davies, Vikram Dodd and Nicholas Watt, Thursday 2 September 2010 21.27 BST

Majid | 13 years ago | Reply I do not know if the players are innocent or not - neither do any of us, so we should not judge them yet. But The Guardian Newspaper in the UK has just ran a story Thursday 2 September 2010 17.28 BST - written by James Robinson - http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/mp-news-of-the-world-inquiry - It details that The News of The World paper which made the video of the betting scam uses illegal phone tappings of many public figures in the UK. Keyword here is 'ILLEGAL', this is a news paper which belongs to Rupert Murdochs News Corp. Group, and I want you to all to take a look at the where the allegations against the players have stemmed from. How can you trust a News paper which uses illegal methods to make headlines and sell papers. Before I read this story I thought wrongly of Pakistan's cricketers too, but having read this story in The Guardian newspaper about the Illegal activities of the News of the World Paper, I am now not going to jump on the bandwagon against the players, and I think they have been setup, just like Wajid Hassan says. Please take a look at the story in The Guardian newspaper's website, and The New York Times has also reported on the illegal activities of Rupert Murdochs newspaper.

Abdul Rahman Khan | 13 years ago | Reply ......'the players are innocent....' hahah hahhah hahah... As innocent as the high commissioner himself..... The high commissioner is bringing further disrepute to the already damaged national prestige by shielding the corrupt players.

Abdul Rahman Khan | 13 years ago | Reply The video clips and several photos showing the dealings between the agent and the players and also the wads of currency notes are not enough proof of their being guilty? High commissioner is himself a part of the corrupt government that's why he kdoesn't see any proof. The justice loving fans of cricket expect the scotland yard to investigate the scam keeping in view the antecedents of those involved and also seek to record by video conference srtatement of an important witness, pakistani actress veena malik. Those found guilty should be shown no leniency and given exemplary punishment.

rizwan | 13 years ago | Reply @anoop and anand: The bookies are Indian and India has the biggest betting syndicate - how about cleaning up your back yard rather than constantly scheming against us.

Tax Payer | 13 years ago | Reply Players may remain escape goats! What about PCB Chairman and team management especially Yawar Saeed: DO not you thnk that they are making money from all fronts; from PCB and their involvement with the matxh fixers. Someone should look into this seriously. BTW, if the palyers are innocent what they have been excluded from the squad.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply Is there a trend here? Ajmal Kasab was proclaimed to be non-Pakistani for so many months until Pak govt had to clarify he was. Something similar is happening now. Emotions are driving the people rather than facts.

cricket lover | 13 years ago | Reply Pak continues to lives in denial of its failures! The first step to correcting the situation starts with accepting failures and mistakes! Make a start and I am sure, life will find a way!

Anand | 13 years ago | Reply How shamless Pakistan and it's officals are is evident from the HC's statements. It also indicates possible complicity of PCB and other Seniors officials of Pakistan.

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