The Pakistan team management was today left to deny a violation of ICC rules that it claimed never happened when images of pacer Mohammad Aamer, appearing to talk on his cellphone in the dressing room, created a stir at the ongoing Asia Cup here.
The Pakistan team management was today left to deny a violation of ICC rules that it claimed never happened when images of pacer Mohammad Aamer, appearing to talk on his cellphone in the dressing room, created a stir at the ongoing Asia Cup here.
As soon as the images were flashed on TV, the murmurs of match-fixing began but the Pakistan team management denied allegations that there was anything fishy about their 16-run defeat to Sri lanka in the Asia Cup opener here last night.
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Local Pakistan television channels flashed puctures of Aamer supposedly talking on his cell phone from the dressing room just before going into bat.
But Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed ridiculed the allegations, categorically denying that such an incident had occurred during the match.
"Aamer's posture sitting next to me in front of the camera with his hand on his helmet speaking to all of us unfortunately has given the impression of him speaking on the cell phone," Saeed told PTI at the team hotel. Clarifying the incident, Saeed said: "The match situation was we needed 30 runs to get and 32 balls to go. It has been blown out of proportion without any evidence." Vexed with match-fixing allegation queries, Saeed said: "I have given a clarification to my Board (Pakistan Cricket Board) and have answered various other phones calls that this incident has not happened. Probably they got the impression that he was talking on his mobile as his hand was on the helmet."
Saeed emphasised that the players are not allowed to use their cell phones during the match. "No player is allowed to use a mobile phone during the match and in the dressing room.
There is a security manager who collects all the cell phones and gives them back to the players after the match." "If somebody wants to break the law by sitting next to the manager he should be out of his mind. This can never happen," said Saeed.
He said the ICC allows players to a cell phone in an emergency.
"As per the ICC regulations I can allow any player to use mobile phone during an emergency and then inform ICC. Even that did not happen here." Saeed said the ICC was convinced that there was no match-fixing situation in Pakistan's defeat to Sri Lanka. "I have spoken to ICC about it and they said in just 20 seconds that Mr Saeed we accept your word. So I don't see any controversy in this alleged incident," said Saeed.
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