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No match-fixing in Sharjah, says Asif Iqbal

Is Sharjah the hub of betting and match-fixing?

The answer is ''no'', if Asif Iqbal, chief coordinator of the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series and former Pakistani skipper, is to be believed.

''Sharjah is an Islamic emirate and gambling is strictly illegal. Police take a harsh view of people indulging in gambling,'' Asif told Gulf News, when asked to comment on Sharjah's role in betting and match-fixing.

Denying any knowledge of match-fixing in Sharjah, he pointed out that betting and match-fixing are two separate issues. ''People should not confuse betting with match-fixing.''

Asif said: ''A person can now bet from anywhere, be it Timbukktu, Sharjah or Toronto.'' He said there are official betting shops in some parts of the world and with most one-day matches being telecast live, all a person needed is a phone to place his bet.

"But we at the CBFS take utmost care,'' he added.

He went on to say that all teams, captains, managers, umpires and referees are told at the pre-tournament meetings that they should report to the organisers if anyone approaches them with an unscrupulous offer ''so that we can take appropriate action.''

Asif pointed out that all match-fixing stories that had so far appeared were from India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and other places.

''I have not heard about a single incident of match-fixing after a tournament in Sharjah,'' he added.

UNI