Felt ‘afraid’ after rejecting spot-fixing offer: Sarfraz Ahmed

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ABU DHABI: Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed has spoken of the “fear” he felt after reporting an alleged illegal approach from a bookmaker during the one-day international series against Sri Lanka reports Hindustan Times. 

Sarfraz Ahmed on Wednesday confirmed that he contacted the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the approach was made.

The Pakistan skipper said he was left “scared” despite following the necessary procedures.

“Whatever happened, it is done and I did what I was supposed to do,” Sarfraz said on the first Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

“I wasn’t frightened after informing (the ICC and BCCI); in fact, I was more scared watching myself on TV.

“I was discussed on TV so much that at some stage I started to feel fear. But by the grace of Allah, everything is getting back to normal.

“When you are going into a series you need to be normal and everything is going good so far.”

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 conspiring to bowl deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test at Lord’s.