Bookies approached me during 2011 WC: Canada cricketer

Canada cricketer Hamza Tariq has revealed that he was approached by bookies during the 2011 world cup. He also stated that he reported about the entire incident immediately to ICC’s Anti-corruption unit.

Bookies approached Hamza before match against Kenya 

The Canadian cricketer stated that a cricketer named Raghav who had played with some of the Canadian cricketers during their training camp in India in 2011 was the one who introduced him to the bookies.

Hamza explained that the night before their match against Kenya in the world cup, Raghav met him with three other men whom he called his ‘uncles’. Those four people took Hamza and his fellow team-mates to a hotel for dinner and after returning back to the hotel even offered a girl to the cricketer.

Hamza noted that during their entire conversation those people didn’t offer him any specific deal for match-fixing but they asked him specific questions such as will he be in the playing XI tomorrow and who all will be playing in the team against Kenya.

Hamza reported the incident to ICC Anti-Corruption Unit

Hamza revealed that before the start of the match against Kenya, an officer from ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit spoke with the Canada cricket team. He told the players that there have been mails and messages regarding their match and added that if there’s anything that any player wants to speak about, it’s best if they share it with them before the game starts rather than after the game.

The wicket-keeper batsman then told the officer about the entire incident and also about a person who had contacted him in the hotel offering some cricket equipment.

One mistake could have ruined my career: Hamza

The Canadian cricketer admits that he is more aware of his surroundings now when he is on tour. He admits that one mistake then could have cost him his career. He advises fellow cricketers that the moment they feel that something is wrong, they should report it right away and should never take that chance.