ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan players perceive the recent spot-fixing scandal as a cause to faint the image of the game of cricket and has stone the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Talking to private news channel, Former Test captain Zaheer Abbas said that he was shocked by the scandal involving Indian Test player, S. Sreesanth and two others Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.
"There have always been fears that the IPL was a soft target for bookmakers but no one took this seriously," he said.
He pointed out that the involvement of players in spot fixing or any sort of corruption had badly tainted the image of the sport.
"It doesn't matter which country you belong to but if you are corrupt you are causing irreparable damage to cricket."
Former great said that the spot fixing scandal had only confirmed the fact that Asia had become a complex for cricket bookmakers and gamblers who were always out to attract and corrupt players.
Former captain Wasim Bari blamed the influx of money into cricket as the primary reason for the growing greed among some players.
"It is shameful what has happened. It is a sad day that again we have a situation where players might be sent to jail for corruption." Bari, who heads the anti-corruption and education wing of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said he was appalled that despite several measures taken by the ICC to educate players, there are some who still risk everything for a few bucks.
"This incident is not only a blot on the IPL but also on cricket as a whole," he said.
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan said cricket had suffered more damage with the latest spot fixing scandal.
"It was bad enough when our players got involved and were penalized but now this incident only highlights that spot fixing needs to be tackled very strongly by the authorities everywhere," said Khan.
Former captain Rashid Latif said he was not surprised by the IPL scandal.
"The amount of money that is at stake in these T20 leagues around the world and particularly in the IPL, such incidents are bound to happen".
"I wouldn't be surprised if there are more players involved in such rackets," said Latif.
Former captain and famous cricket commentator Rameez Raja said that such incident will also cause the anger and resentment among the fans of cricket which will badly effect the game's popularity.
The former cricketers have warned their national team, presently in Scotland, to be very cautious and on guard after the incident.
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