11:45am Wednesday 1st September 2010
Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has thrown his support behind the current squad by claiming they may have been forced to get involved in ‘spot-fixing’.
Pakistan’s current tour of England is in question after allegations in the News Of The World that players were involved with illegal betting syndicates.
Lawson, who coached Pakistan two years ago, says criminal organisations target players with non-financial ways of ensuring matches go according to a certain plan.
The ex-Haslingden professional said: “The allegations could be related to extortion and the well-being of the players’ family members. In my time as Pakistan coach, the captain called me up to his room.
“Earlier that day, a player who we had not selected for the game approached me, saying: ‘I was told I would be playing tomorrow.’ My response was, ‘Well no, you’ve been given the wrong information’.
“Then the skipper of the side called me late in the evening. I went to his room and he was standing there with a very sombre-looking selector.
“This selector said: ‘We must pick the player, I’ve been told that if he is not in the team, my daughter will be kidnapped and I will not see her again’.”
Former ICC chief Malcolm Speed has called for Pakistan to be suspended over the allegations
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