Was Surrounded By Match-Fixers Within Pakistan Team: Shoaib Akhtar

In a sensational revelation, former Pakistan pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar has said that he was surrounded by match-fixers in the Pakistan team. In the last couple of decades, Pakistan cricket has suffered numerous setbacks due to the match-fixing exposes. The biggest scandal took place in 2010 when three players Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and the-then captain Salman Butt were caught in match-fixing.

Pakistan were touring England at that time with Shoaib Akhtar also being a part of the squad. And he has now given an insight on just how widespread match-fixing was within the team. The legendary pacer said that sometimes he felt like almost everyone in his team as well as the opposition were match-fixers.

“I was always of the belief that I can never cheat Pakistan, no match-fixing but I was surrounded by match-fixers. I was playing against 21 people (sic) — 11 theirs and 10 ours. Who knows who was the match-fixer,” Shoaib Akhtar said during a talk show ‘Rewind With Samina Peerzada’.

“There was so much match-fixing. Asif told me which all matches they had fixed and how they did it,” he added.

Shoaib Akhtar further said he was livid when he came to know that Aamir and Asif had indulged in corruption during a Test against England.

“I tried to make Aamir and Asif understand. What a waste of talent. When I heard about this, I was so upset that I punched the wall,” said the 44-year-old.

“Pakistan’s two top bowlers, smart, intelligent and the two perfect fast bowlers were wasted. They sold themselves for a little money,” he added.

Out of three, only Amir managed to return to international cricket while Butt has been doing well in domestic circuit. There were recent reports suggesting that Pakistan could recall the left-handed batsman.

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