If match-fixing is criminalised, majority of PCB officials would be in jail: Rashid Latif

Since the time the PCB banned Umar Akmal for three years, the issue of match-fixing has once again hit the country’s board. Some former cricketers have come up and said that fixing should be criminalised in Pakistan. While many agreed on this, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif had a different viewpoint on it.

He revealed that there have been instances in the past when match-fixing inquiries were manipulated and also claimed that the majority of PCB officials will be punished if fixing is deemed as a criminal offence in Pakistan. The former player also went on to say that the authorities can do whatever they want when it comes to match-fixing enquiries.

“There is a history of how match-fixing inquiry reports are manipulated. The authority can do whatever they want. This is why we talk about making new rules, about making this a criminal act. Majority of the PCB officials would be seen behind bars if this becomes criminalised.  Then we will find out who is actually corrupt,” Latif was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

It will create a big controversy in Pakistan, says Rashid Latif

Rashid Latif went on to question the timings of some players who reported their cases. He revealed that he has videos from the past and also said there could be many who haven’t reported a fixing case and also refuted from giving the details stating that it would create a furore in the country.

“The players that people are naming such as Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Nawaz, do you know when they reported the cases and why? How many of them have still not reported? I have videos from the past as well. I don’t want to go into the details of it as it will create a very big controversy in Pakistan,” the 51-year-old further said.

The former wicketkeeper-batsman also said that people have been misguided. He then mentioned a few dates and said no one is actually aware how things have actually transpired behind the scenes.

“Everyone is being misguided. This is because most people are not aware of what happened on the night of February 8, 2017, or what happened during the match on February 9, how their phones were brought to Pakistan and opened on February 12, how a statement was taken on February 17? How the bats and their grips were cleaned?” Rashid Latif added.