Thaindian News

Sydney, Aug 31 (IANS) Australian cricketers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin confirmed Tuesday that they were approached by a bookie during the tour of England last year.
The cricketers came out in the open after the Sydney Morning Herald reported that both players “were approached by a suspected Mumbai gangster with links to illegal bookmakers during the tour of England last year”.

Watson was approached in the bar of the team’s hotel in West London while Haddin was contacted in the hotel room during the World Twenty20 tournament, the report said.

Watson later confirmed he was approached twice and subsequently informed the Australian team management.

“I did not think much about it until I found out that he was a illegal bookmaker. He was just a little too different in comparison to a normal fan,” said Watson.

Watson felt bad for Mohammad Aamer, one of the Pakistani players involved in the spot-fixing scandal and called him naive and innocent.

“I was in shock after the news broke out. I feel the most for Aamer. I found him as a great competitor. He is just 18 and if found guilty, he could be banned for life,” added Watson.

The bookie contacted Haddin during the night in the hotel room.

“I was contacted at around 11 in the night. The guy wanted me to come to his room and have a drink. I refused the stranger’s offer,” said Haddin.

The revelation comes in the wake of Scotland Yard investigating match-fixing allegations against the Pakistani players.

Mazhar Majeed, a players’ agent, was caught on videotape accepting 150,000 pounds in cash in a sting operation conducted by the News of the World (NOTW) tabloid.

The players — captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Aamer are charged with underperforming in the fourth Test match between England and Pakistan that ended Sunday.

–Indo–Asian News Service

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