By IANS,
New Delhi: Contrary to claims made by cricketer Irfan Pathan that he was sent expensive gifts by a “suspected” bookie and the matter being reported to International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption unit, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Friday said it has no knowledge of the incident.
BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan and chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told IANS that the board was unaware of the claims made by Irfan.
“We have no such information about any stranger presenting expensive gifts to Irfan. At least I am not aware about it,” said Srinivasan.
Irfan, who last played a Test in 2008, said he was presented expensive gifts by a “stranger”, a suspected bookie. Though he did not reveal the series.
“I was in a team hotel when a stranger approached me. He sent three expensive gifts to my room. He later sent me two more expensive gifts, things I couldn’t afford,” the 25-year-old was quoted as saying by Times Now.
“I thought it was wrong as I didn’t know this person. I reported to the team manager who then alerted the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit Officer,” he recalled.
Pathan said he never saw the “stranger” again.
“I have not seen the stranger since then. I think I have done the right thing and I am proud of it. As a player you are expected to report any such thing as per the code of conduct,” he said.
Pathan’s claims come after Pakistan’s Test skipper Salman Butt and pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer have been suspended provisionally by the ICC for spot-fixing.
The three players allegedly took money from a bookmaker to bowl no-balls during the Lord’s Test against England last month.