Thaindian News

London, Sep 6 (ANI): Pakistan ODI and Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi has said that Yasir Hameed has the mind of a teenager despite being 30-31 years of age, after the opener allegedly told an undercover journalist that his teammates were corrupt and had constantly fixed games.

News of The World reported that Hameed had “sensationally confirmed” its report last week that some Pakistan players had accepted money to fix aspects of the fourth Test match against England in London.

These allegations led to Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif being charged by the International Cricket Council for corruption. Police also questioned them.

The tabloid said Hameed had told one of its reporters in a bar in Nottingham, central England, that some Pakistan players were fixing “almost every match”.

But Afridi, who has taken over the captaincy from accused Butt, tried to water down Hameed’s allegations.

“Yasir Hameed is about 30 or 31 - but mentally he is 15 or 16. People know the type of character he is. We have known him for a long time and we know what to expect from him,” The Sun quoted Afridi, as saying.

“He has done this sort of thing many times. Is he unreliable? Well, he is sitting with someone he does not know and gives these messages out, so, yes,” he said.

Afridi admitted that his players were relieved to take to the field again for Sunday’s Twenty20 international against England in Cardiff, even though they lost by five-wicket.

Afridi said: “It was a relief to be playing again. Even though it was not a perfect performance. All the allegations are history now and until the ICC completes their investigations and it is all before us, we don’t want to talk about it.” (ANI)