Finally an Indian gets his name in the “Bookie approached player’s list”
Just two weeks ago, when the international cricketers were taking it as honour to register their name in the “Bookie approached player’s list”, it was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s former captain Sourav Ganguly who was quoted saying “I was not approached
by any bookie.” With the statement the former Indian captain not only kept himself away from the spot-fixing mess embroiling his neighbouring counterparts but also helped his teammates saying "Three former India captains -- Sachin Tendulkar, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid and Anil
Kumble -- too were never approached.” According to Mr. Ganguly such a situation was beyond the imagination of loyal Indian cricketers.
But something strange happened yesterday when the Indian all-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-Pathan-c1601, narrated his story in which he was sent expensive gifts by a stranger, whom Pathan suspects to be a bookie. According to the fast bowling star
of India, the incident happened back in January-February 2006, when he was touring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 with his teammates.
Irfan told the media reporters that a person, who claimed himself to be a great fan of the all-rounder, met him twice. But Pathan, like other Indian cricketers, showed equally vigilant behaviour by avoiding that person. Irfan said
that the person never approached him regarding any kind of fixing, match or spot-fixing, but it was the suspicious behaviour of the person that made him think other way.
Irfan continued his story and told that, after making two attempts to meet, the person did not approach him physically on the third occasion rather he sent a parcel of expensive gifts with a message that he wanted to see him. According
to Irfan, the gifts were sent to his Karachi hotel room.
The expensive gifts alarmed the sixth sense of Irfan Pathan, who had just recorded a hat-trick in the 3rd Test against Pakistan at the National Stadium Karachi. The bowler immediately reported the matter to M. Baladitya,
the then assistant team manager.
“I was in the team hotel (in Karachi) when a stranger approached me. He sent three expensive gifts to my room. He later sent me two more expensive gifts… Things I couldn’t afford,” said Pathan. “I thought it
was wrong as I didn’t know this person. I reported the matter to the assistant team manager who then alerted the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) officer,” recalled the fast bowler who has not donned whites since April 2008.
When asked, “What happened to the expensive gifts?” Pathan said that he had handed over those gifts to the ICC’s Anticorruption and Security Unit the very next morning.
The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and the then assistant manager, Group Captain (who was Wing Commander at that time) M. Baladitya has confirmed reports that Irfan Pathan had been approached by
a stranger during India’s tour of Pakistan in early 2006.
M Baladitya confirming the episode said that he was informed by Irfan that a stranger had come to his room and left expensive gifts. Baladitva said that he had asked Irfan to return those gifts to the stranger
immediately. He further added that he had been guiding his men throughout the tour not to accept anything from strangers and on team’s return to home; he had also mentioned the incident in his report submitted to BCCI.
"During the entire tour, I kept on telling the players not to accept any gifts or contact anybody. After returning to India, I mentioned about this incident in my report submitted to the BCCI," he added.
Irfan concluded the story telling that he never saw the “stranger” again. He also appreciated his timely decision of informing the concerned authorities and said that he is proud of himself for handling the issue
so wisely.
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