Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has made sensational claims about match-fixing in cricket that the boards also play a part in the mal-practice. Speaking on a youtube channel he was critical of cricket bodies.
Latif: Boards Have Always Protected Players With Corruption Charges
He alleged that the boards have always protected players accused of fixing and they should also share the blame.
He said,” The cricket boards have always given support to players accused of fixing. We always blame the players. Yes, they are involved in fixing. But are cricket authorities not to be blamed as well,”
Latif added that the boards just tell the players to not meet certain individuals but do not take concrete measures to end the corrupt practice.
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit tells players to stay away from certain individuals. But the cricketers are playing franchise cricket for teams owned by the same individuals with whom they are suggesting to stay away from. It’s a big problem,” he said.
Latif went on to say that he will not entirely blame the players for getting involved in fixing as he feels that they are just pawns and some board members have a larger role in fixing.
“I won’t completely blame a player for fixing. Players are just pawns, they are being utilized by the top board members. The board has a larger role to play in fixing,” he said.
T20 Franchise Cricket Was Created To Misuse It For Match Fixing
He accused that some board members who are placed due to political contacts try to protect players.
“If no member from the board is involved, then they will always punish a player. But the top officials of the boards, or some members of the boards who have been placed by political contacts, are somewhere involved, and hence, players always get protected,” he added.
He also alleges that T20 franchise cricket was created to carry out such illegal activities. He further said,” This is why the window of T20 cricket and franchise cricket had to be created to tell players that do whatever you want to do here, don’t do it in international cricket.”
