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| • Shane
Watson approached during 2009 Ashes tour • Amir is 'only a young, naive
and innocent guy' The Australian cricketers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin have confirmed they were approached by an "illegal" Indian bookmaker in the past 12 months. Watson was approached during Australia's Ashes tour to England last year while Haddin received a similar visit at this year's World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies. The revelations come as British police investigate allegations by a tabloid newspaper that two of Pakistan's players deliberately bowled no-balls last week's fourth Test against England at Lord's in exchange for money. Watson, the all-rounder, said both players immediately reported their separate meetings to team management because the approaches were "more intense" than those from most ordinary fans. The bookmaker met Watson while the Australian team was staying at an exclusive hotel in London and praised the 29-year-old before inviting him out for drinks and "a bit of fun." "I didn't think too much more of it until I found out a bit more information and that he was actually one of the illegal bookmakers," Watson said. "It was just a little bit different to what normal fans are." Watson said he was sorry to hear about the possible involvement in the alleged betting scandal of Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir. "I probably feel for him more than anyone because he's only a young, naive and innocent guy," Watson said. "I found him to be a brilliant competitor on the field. He always gave everything he got every single time that I competed against him and I found him to be an extremely skilful bowler for a 19-year-old." Haddin said he was approached separately, with an Indian man coming to the wicketkeeper's hotel room while he was talking to his wife on the telephone. "I got a knock on my door from someone asking if I wanted to come across to their room to have a drink, which I thought was a bit odd," Haddin explained. The unusual encounter raised Haddin's suspicions and he alerted the Australian team manager, Steve Bernard, and the ICC's security manager, John Rhodes. |
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