Sarfraz rejected spot-fixing approach

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed said on Wednesday that he was the Pakistan player who was approached by an alleged bookie during the one-day international series against Sri Lanka earlier this month. The wicketkeeper-batsman reported the incident to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the time. The news of a Pakistani player approached for fixing made headlines before the fourth match of a series the nominal hosts won 5-0.

"There was so much talk about it [spot-fixing] on the television that made me scared" - Sarfraz https://t.co/41CMLeEF4D #PAKvSL

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 26, 2017

The PCB confirmed on Saturday that an unnamed player was approached with an offer but promptly reported the matter to its anti-corruption unit. The PCB said the incident was conveyed to the ICC, whose anti-corruption unit interviewed the player. Sarfraz will lead his side in a three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka starting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Sarfraz Ahmed rejected spot-fixing approach

READ: https://t.co/yI9z8uhd41 pic.twitter.com/80YvO785C9

— TOI Sports (@toisports) October 25, 2017

"Obviously I did my job of informing, but I was not scared when I informed about it," said Ahmed when he was asked if he feels under pressure because of the incident. "I did become scared after I saw myself on the television. There was so much talk about it on the television that I got scared. "By the grace of Allah everything is getting normal. When you are going into a series you need to be normal and everything is going good so far."

"I did my job of informing, but I was not scared when I informed them about it" - Sarfraz. @hashmi_shahid has more: https://t.co/PsPTUjxLEJ

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) October 25, 2017

Pakistan cricket was hit by a fixing scandal during the second edition of the Pakistan Super League earlier this year that saw Pakistan openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif banned for two-and-a-half and five years respectively. The most infamous spot-fixing incident to hit Pakistani cricket came on the 2010 tour of England, when then-captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were all given prison sentences for consipiring to bowl deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test at Lord's.

Sarfraz Ahmed confirms he was the Pakistan player to reject an illegal spot-fixing approach during #PAKvSL ODIs: https://t.co/UtY9jZLl5m pic.twitter.com/TDbTBjAvtP

— Sky Sports Cricket? (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2017