Pakistan former skipper Wasim Akram has supported the introduction of lie-detector tests for international cricketers in order to put an end to the match-fixing saga and cleanse the whole innings of the game.
''I have no problem with going through such a procedure, if it is going to help curb match-fixing and make the game clean,'' The News, quoting Akram, said on Friday. The International Cricket Council (ICC) should clear the legal ramifications of introducing lie-detector tests for the cricketers, he said adding that this could only be made mandatory by law enforcement agencies.
But the paceman maintained that he had no problem for undergoing the tests and pointed out that the ICC should first communicate with the players on the issue before implementing it. ''There should be more communication between the ICC and international players and more meetings of the Test playing captains. The more communication you have, the more it is easier to sort out problems and fight corruption in cricket,'' the daily quoted him.
Akram doubted if the Pakistan Cricket Board would permit its players to take the lie-detector tests. On the legal notice he had sent to former Test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz threatening him of legal action if he did not apologise for his statement to the justice Karamat Bhandari inquiry commission about him (Akram), the lanky all-rounder said if the apology was not made, appropriate steps would be taken.
Bureau Report