Wahab Riaz quizzed by police in spot-fixing probe

LONDON: Fast bowler Wahab Riaz has become the latest Pakistan cricketer to be questioned by police as a result of the 'spot-fixing' row engulfing the team's tour of England.

A brief statement issued by Scotland Yard here on Tuesday said: “We can confirm that today, Tuesday, September 14, one further Pakistani cricketer was interviewed by appointment under caution.” Although the statement did not name Riaz, his interview with detectives was trailed last week by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt, who said: “We have arranged for his interview as we will continue to cooperate and we want to get to the bottom of the matter.” Pakistan's tour has been overshadowed by newspaper allegations of a betting scam that saw no-balls deliberately bowled in the fourth Test against England at Lord's last month.

The claims, published in the News of the World, led to the suspension of Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Riaz, a 25-year-old left-arm seamer, remains with the squad but has not so far been selected for the ongoing one-day series against England.

Before the series started and before the ICC suspended Butt, Aamer and Asif, Englandmade clear their unease about playing against any of the trio.

However, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said of Riaz last week: “He's in the (squad of) 15. All 15 are available.”And that means Riaz could play at The Oval on Friday where Englandwill look for a victory that would see them go an unbeatable 3-0 up in the five-match one-day series.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ehsan Mani, the Pakistani former president of the ICC, accused the PCB of failing to educate its players about the dangers of corruption.

“The Pakistan board is clearly not getting the message through to its players,” said Mani in an interview in October's Wisden Cricketer magazine.

“The onus is on the PCB to explain how players under its control could behave like this.”Mani, who led the ICC, cricket's global governing body, from 2003-06, dismissed claims Pakistan players were among the most vulnerable to 'spot-fixing' approaches because they weren't as well-paid as rival international cricketers.

“All cricketers round the world get paid well,” Mani said. “Even Pakistani players are exceedingly well paid relative to the standard of living in their country. There is no excuse (for corruption) apart from sheer greed.

“If a player comes from a very under-privileged background and makes the big time, he needs a lot of mentoring, a lot of support and education.

“We have to be honest -- there has been a failure in the system in Pakistan here and certainly Pakistan should be accountable to the ICC to explain how it's gone so wrong.”Mani added the ICC should now approach the government in India, the global centre of illegal betting on cricket, to legalise gambling.

“This is the time for the ICC to say to the Indian government that you have to bring this into the loop...This is hurting the credibility not only of the game but of India andPakistan.” Mani's comments were published on the same day as Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, speaking after a meeting of the ICC chief executives' committee in Cape Town, said Tuesday: “I am especially keen to engage with governments to consider the regulation of betting.”