Pakistan player approached by bookie ahead of third ODI against Sri Lanka

What's the story?

Controversy continues to shroud the Pakistan cricket team, with reports emerging that one of their top players was approached by a bookie ahead of the third ODI of their series against Sri Lanka.

According to Wisden India, the player immediately contacted the anti-corruption unit of the Pakistan Cricket Board to report the incident.

“A top player was approached by a bookie and the player instantly reported the matter to the PCB anti-corruption unit. The man has been known to the players and lives in UAE,” a source familiar with the proceedings told Wisden India.

The heart of the matter

According to the source, the player whose identity is still unknown, was approached by a bookie just ahead of the third ODI of the five-match series. The bookie, who is said to live in the UAE, is reportedly a household name amongst Pakistani cricketing circles.

The player in question responded in an admirable manner and in accordance with the laws laid down in the players' code, informing the PCB of the approach immediately.

Coming to the series in question, Pakistan clinched it comfortably, winning the third ODI by seven wickets, thereby taking an unassailable 3-0 lead.

In case you didn't know...

As many as six Pakistani players were charged with spot-fixing in this past season of the Pakistan Super League. While several were high-profile cricketers who have represented the international side in the past, a few were not that familiar to fans.

Sharjeel Khan, who represented Pakistan in as many as 25 ODIs, was handed a five-year ban while the likes of Khalid Latif and Mohammad Nawaz too were handed substantial fines and bans.

What's next?

It is now up to the PCB to take action against the bookie in question after they learn of all the details surrounding the approach.

For Pakistan, meanwhile, their focus is entirely on the fourth ODI at Sharjah where they are well on course to making it 4/4, with Sri Lanka reeling at 106-7 at the time of writing.

Author's take

Pakistan cricket has been plagued with the scourge of fixing and players being susceptible to the approach of bookies. The onus now lies with the PCB to check these rampant illegalities which have hijacked Pakistan cricket

It is a shame to see the Gentleman's Game tainted by such moments of corruption and one can only hope that in the future, incidents of this kind are eliminated for good.