Pakistan batsman Yasir Hameed insisted Sunday he had been misled by an undercover reporter and was only repeating allegations he had read about when he said his team-mates were corrupt. The News of the World newspaper said Hameed had "sensationally confirmed" its report last week that some Pakistan players had accepted money to fix aspects of the final Test match against England in London.
He said he had never been approached by News of the World, and that he had never approached them. The incident was "largely inaccurately reported," he added. Hameed said that in talking to their reporter who broke the original story of the "spot-fixing" claims, he had been misled into thinking he was speaking to a potential sponsor.
"Naturally, I was interested in what he had to say and we began a conversation," he said. "He offered me at least 50,000 pounds (77,000 dollars, 60,000 euros) for the deal," which involved having an airline logo on his bat, plus television and billboard advertisements in the United Arab Emirates.
Hameed said he was asked for the names of four more players who may be interested in a similar arrangements and was then asked about the match-fixing allegations clouding Pakistan's England tour. "As I saw him as a friend and a potential agent I naively started to answer his questions," he said.
"As far as I recall, I only told him whatever I had already read in the newspapers about the matter." Hameed said he was unaware of the hidden camera.
He said two days later the man telephoned and offered 25,000 pounds to give a statement against the three players under investigation.
Hameed said he refused immediately and put the phone down, then neither called nor took calls from the man.
The batsman said he later received a text from the man, which read: "Pls call me. Incidentally you are in video drinking wine and saying all the quotes attributed to you. Denying it is just stupid as we will be releasing the video to TV. Better that you stand up and speak the truth!!!!"
He said he decided not to respond and told the Pakistan Cricket Board about what had happened.
(The statement was read by a spokesman outside the Pakistan High Commission (embassy) in London. Hameed was later pictured leaving the building.)