Afridi apologises for fixing controversy

LONDON (AP):

The captain of Pakistan's limited-overs teams has apologised to cricket fans for the controversy that erupted after three of his teammates were suspended on suspicion of fixing.

Shahid Afridi said yesterday that the players in the squad for the remaining two Twenty20 and five one-day matches against England were upset by the allegations, which the International Cricket Council has called the most serious to hit the sport for a decade.

"On behalf of these boys - I know they're not in this series - I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all cricketing nations," Afridi said.

Cricket's ruling body suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir this week while it investigates them for various offences under the sport's anti-corruption code.

The ICC has not detailed the charges, which followed accusations by a British tabloid that a middleman accepted payment in exchange for deliberate no-balls against England last week.

"It's very bad news," Afridi said ahead of today's first Twenty20 in Cardiff. "It's a big challenge for me as captain but we're all ready. The coach and I are not talking about the issue - we are here to play cricket."

The trio were released without criminal charge after being questioned by London police on Friday but could be banned from cricket for life if found guilty.

The Pakistan Cricket Board's legal adviser said yesterday that Butt, Amir and Asif have denied knowledge of any alleged wrongdoing by the middleman, agent Mazhar Majeed.

"The players have informed the police that the man was their agent, but they had no knowledge," about his alleged wrongdoing, Tafazzul Rizvi told private television channels in Pakistan.

Accusation

British tabloid News of the World has accused Majeed of acting as a middleman, accepting money in exchange for getting Asif and Amir to bowl intentional no-balls.

Players and officials are waiting to see if the News of the World follows its initial report with further allegations.

"I've told the boys, 'don't read the newspapers'," Afridi said.

After winning the four-match Test series 3-1, England are also trying to focus on the matches ahead.

"It's going to be interesting to see what happens tonight," batsman Paul Collingwood said. "That's out of our hands as players. We've just got to mentally prepare ourselves to play tomorrow."

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said Friday the allegations that Asif, Amir and Butt conspired with bookmakers was the most serious case of corruption since South Africa captain Hansie Cronje was banned for life 10 years ago.

Cronje admitted to forecasting results in exchange for money from a London bookmaker, prompting the ICC to create its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.