ICC Anti-Corruption Unit quizzes Akhtar

Lahore, Apr 8 (UNI) Shoaib Akhtar's controversial statement that he was approched by match fixers during tours of India and South Africa last year seems to have opened a can of worms with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) arriving here to questioned the banned pacer.

According to sources, an ICC investigator has questioned Akhtar over the seamer's claims.

''Alan Peacock of the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit interviewed Akhtar and some other players on Sunday and will make recommendations to the ICC over any further action,'' the sources said.

''Pakistan's representative in the ACSU, retired colonel Nuruddin Khawaja, assisted Peacock in the investigation,'' they added.

A report in the 'Dawn' claimed that the investigators had spoken to Younis Khan, who was vice-captain and stand-in captain on Pakistan's last tour to India, and Umar Gul.

Akhtar, who was banned for five years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had alleged in a television interview last week that he had refused offers to underperform in international games during his lengthy career.

''A briefcase full of money was placed before me and I was asked to under-bowl in a match at Johannesburg but I refused. Then on tour to India I was offered money but I again turned it down,'' Akhtar said.

Since his International debut in 1997, Akhtar has always attracted controversy. He has repeatedly been accused of feigning injuries when he did not want to play, while he tested positive for nandrolone in 2006 - though the findings were reversed on appeal.

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