Mid-Day

“Fixing happens in our culture because there’s less money, there are even lesser opportunities. Cricketers victimised by their boards return (to the team) to mint money,” Akhtar, 37, told the Headlines Today.

“In 2008, I had no money to even buy a car. I had to borrow money from a friend. I handled it, others go astray.

“Some are corrupt, but some cricketers are turned into criminals by the system,” he added.

Three Pakistani stars — Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif — were jailed last year after being found guilty of spot-fixing during the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.