London, Aug.31 (ANI): Dheeraj Dixit, the Indian photographer named in the match fixing scandal, has alleged that Veena Malik, the former girlfriend of Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif, had told him that she managed seven players and could strike a deal for fixing cricket matches.
"She told me, she got seven players, she could manage all seven players, if you give some handsome money to me, I will manage all seven players, she told me. (Q. She told you this over the phone or in person?) Over the phone, she said Asif is a very simple, innocent guy, he hasn't got any mind and he is always rude to everybody, so I am handling Asif, I am handling all commercial things for Asif and six, seven other players," said Dixit, speaking to Asian News International in London.
Malik, a Pakistani model and actress, in an interview to a TV channel in Pakistan on Monday had alleged Dixit was a bookie that had paid Asif had for fixing during matches.
Dixit, denied the charge, saying he was approached by Malik, who claimed that the triangular series between Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier this year was fixed and offered to disclose the results of the matches if she was paid for it.
"She was trying to flirt (with) me. (Q. Did you know her from before?) She approached me, she called me at my Delhi number, but I was not there. That time, I was busy in cricket triangular series in Dhaka. And, she was trying to tell me about some deal she has done with Mohammad Asif and I don't know the name of other player she was taking. That match was happening between Australia and Pakistan and she told me all matches are fixed and I have got the match fixing results and I am ready to reveal all results for some consideration," said Dixit.
Pakistan endured the worst day in their turbulent cricket history on Sunday when the match-fixing scandal erupted and British police arrested a man late Saturday after the British tabloid News of The World carried reports about Pakistani players being involved in spot fixing.
News of the World alleged that Pakistani pacers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif bowled three deliberate no balls by arrangement during the Lord's Test against England.
Claiming his innocence, Dixit said he did not know how match fixing is done.
"I don't know how to fix a match, I don't know how players fix a match. But I have heard some of the players just fix the sessions like how many players will make the runs in how many overs. I just know that. I never organised anything like this. I know some people, time to time. I reveal my opinion to ICC officials," said Dixit.
Dixit also revealed that he had received a phone call in which he was threatened with dire consequences if he released pictures of Pakistani players Umar Amin and Wahab Riyaz with Mazhar Majeed, the suspected bookie outside a restaurant in London.
"I got a life threatening call at in the night at 12:30 (London time) (Q. Who called you?) That's an unknown caller. (Q. What did the caller say?) Don't show these pictures to anybody else or you will face the consequences," said Dixit.
Cricket fans across the globe are disappointed with this latest fixing blot on the gentlemen's game. Pakistani and Indian fans expressed their anger during protests against the Pakistani players.
Millions of dollars are bet annually in the Indian sub-continent on individual incidents such as no balls within international cricket matches, which are widely televised there.
Pakistan, who play all their international matches abroad because of the perilous security situation at home, have played six tests in seven weeks in England, including a drawn series with Australia.
Former Pakistan captain Salim Malik was one of three international cricketers who were banned for life after a match-fixing scandal that emerged in 2000. The late South African skipper Hansie Cronje and India's Mohammad Azharuddin also received life bans.
This year, seven members of the Pakistan team received indefinite bans or fines after a singularly unsuccessful tour of Australia where they failed to win a single match. By Cynthia Chandran (ANI)
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