Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

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• ‘Sorry to all cricket lovers and all the cricketing nations’
• Shahid Afridi speaking ‘on behalf of these players’

Pakistan’s one-day captain, Shahid Afridi, has issued a remarkable public apology on behalf of the three players at the centre of cricket’s betting scandal.

“I think it is very bad news,” he said. “On behalf of these players – I know they are not in this series – but on behalf of these boys I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all the cricketing nations.”

Afridi was at pains to distance himself from those implicated in the betting scandal – the Test captain, Salman Butt, and the fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif – as he arrived at nets ahead of Pakistan’s Twenty20 game against England in Cardiff tomorrow.

He made no attempt to proclaim that they were innocent until proven guilty and he also stressed that he had no anger about the investigation into the players. “No,” was his emphatic response.

Afridi also revealed that the Pakistan agent involved in the affair has travelled regularly with the team. “This guy has been travelling with the guys in the West Indies and in Australia,” he said. “I saw him on the tours. I didn’t know anything about this.”

The players are undergoing an investigation by the Metropolitan police and the International Cricket Council have charged them under cricket’s code of conduct.

Afridi guaranteed that the two Twenty20s and five ODIs would go ahead whatever further revelations might appear in tomorrow’s newspapers.

"I told the boys don’t read the newspapers tomorrow, just focus on cricket. I know the Pakistan people are very upset. We all love cricket. As I team all we can do is to play good, aggressive cricket and maybe when we go back home maybe the things will settle down.

“It is a big challenge for me as a captain but I think we are all ready and focused. Myself and the coach have already told the boys: ‘Don’t talk about this issue, we are here to play cricket.’”

Is this the admittance of guilt or what?

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

How can Afridi be representing them now? I don't think he has any business apologising for the 3 idiots, if those 3 want to apologize I am sure they can hold a press conference on this issue.

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

Great Gesture by Afridi but those 3 should have apologised first too

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

Agreed.

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan’s scandal-hit trio

Afridi’s just trying to make himself clear and better in the eyes of world cricket but he’s not realizing (or possibly ignoring) that any such act on the trio’s behalf will slide them into further trouble.. It wont help at all!!

Ye hamare khilarion ko kab aqal aaegi :smack:

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

Afridi has no business making such unnecessary statements. He should focus purely on the job at hand

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

^ true

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

Saint Afridi. Jub apnay hee log aisee harkatay karein tu bahar walay ko kya bolein.

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Afridi : London Bookie was hanging around the pak team during Australia & WI tour!

Things getting interesting! I bet the ICC will now look into that pathetic loss to the Aussie during last tour test.

Pakistan’s one-day captain, Shahid Afridi, has issued a public apology on behalf of the three players suspended by the ICC after allegations of spot-fixing during the fourth Test at Lord’s. Speaking to the press after the visiting team’s training session ahead of the first Twenty20 against England in Cardiff, Afridi also distanced himself from the events of the last week and insisted that his team were focused on the remaining games of their tour.
“I think it is very bad news,” said Afridi. “On behalf of these players - I know they are not in this series - but on behalf of these boys I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all the cricketing nations.”
**Afridi also revealed that Mazhar Majeed - the man alleged to be at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal - had accompanied the team on various tours in the past. “This guy has been travelling with the guys in the West Indies and in Australia,” he said. "I saw him on the tours. I didn’t know anything about this. **
Afridi, who took no part in Pakistan’s Test series against England after stepping down as Test captain after a 150-run loss to Australia at Lord’s earlier this summer also guaranteed that the limited-overs leg of Pakistan’s tour would continue despite any further revelations in the ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption in cricket.
"I told the boys don’t read the newspapers tomorrow, just focus on cricket. I know the Pakistan people are very upset. We all love cricket. As a team all we can do is to play good, aggressive cricket and maybe when we go back home the things will settle down. It is a big challenge for me as a captain but I think we are all ready and focused.
"Myself and the coach have already told the boys: ‘Don’t talk about this issue, we are here to play cricket.’ It is none of our business and we are here to play cricket. The boys know that. They want to win and motivate themselves - and as a captain, that is what I want

http://www.cricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/content/current/story/475769.html

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

PCB needs to appoint a media manager.

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

why don't you apologize for your own deliberate underperformances first, you jackass?

frankly, I'm very surprised that he hasn't been implicated in this scandal thus far. but I did find it amusing that the attention wh0re was in the thick of things claiming that he'd tipped PCB off about matchfixing, Majeed, players, etc. and only a month ago, when he stepped aside from the test captaincy, he recommended Butt - the kingpin of fixing - as the captain in a resounding manner. so which one is Afraidi... did you know... or didn't you know... or as usual you're opening your trap without a coherent thought in your empty head?

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan’s scandal-hit trio

:femmefatale: SAMB there was a reason behind Afridi leaving the captaincy, some one as DUMB as you wouldn’t understand that …

He is the only Muhib-e-watan senior cricketer we have and as far as performance is concern He is the best ALL ROUNDER in 1day and t20 ..

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan’s scandal-hit trio

:omg:

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

That would be like adding another joker to an already long line of jokers. But atleat NOTW won't have to 'entrap' individual players, they can just get the all the inside scoop from the media manager.

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan's scandal-hit trio

Afridi good intentions i think he was sincere but the way his message came across is the 3 idiots are guilty already!

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Re: Shahid Afridi issues apology on behalf of Pakistan’s scandal-hit trio

really you retard. enlighten me then.