Pak player accuses tabloid reporter of blackmail
Published: Sep 5, 2010 23:43 Updated: Sep 5, 2010 23:43
CARDIFF: Pakistan opening batsman Yasir Hameed on Sunday denied giving any interview to News of the World and instead claimed that one of the tabloid’s reporters tried to blackmail him.
“The incident which was largely inaccurately reported in the News of the World today was when I was having dinner with a friend at the Holiday Inn (in) Nottingham on the evening of 30th August 2010. I was then approached by a man who introduced himself as Abid Khan and offered that he would arrange a sponsorship deal for me with Etihad Airways. I have not seen a photograph of the so called Abid Khan and have discovered that he is Mazhar Mahmood,” Yasir said in a statement issued on Sunday night.
Mahmood is the NOTW reporter, who did a cover story for his tabloid one week back when allegations of corruption were hurled at three Pakistan team players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. The trio are currently under investigation.
“Naturally I was interested in what he had to say and we began conversation. He offered me at least £50,000 for the deal…,” added Yasir, who was shown in a video recording by NOTW, saying that his team-mates were involved in match-fixing.
“Then Abid Khan started asking about the current match fixing allegations and as I saw him as a friend and a potential agent I naively started to answer his questions. He asked me about the match fixing allegations against the current three Pakistani players and if I had any further knowledge.
“As far as I can recall I only told him whatever I had already read in the newspapers about this matter. It seems that Abid had a hidden camera which I was totally unaware of.
I then left the hotel with my friend and came back to where I was staying. Two days later Abid then called me and offered me £25,000 to give a statement against the three current players under investigation, which I immediately refused and put the phone down. ’’
“I neither called nor answered any calls from Abid after this conversation. When News of the World released my conversation, which Abid Khan recorded without me knowing about it, I was contacted by the media in Pakistan to confirm if I gave the statement to the NOTW, I denied categorically as explained above that this was not the case.
“Subsequently, I received a text message from Abid Khan from his number 07860109876, which I found to be intimidating as reflected in his message reproduced below: “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!!!!.” However, I decided not to respond or react. I brought the matter to the attention of PCB,” concluded Yasir.

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