I didn't accuse cricketers, voiced concerns only: Qadir

Karachi:

Former chief selector Abdul Qadir has backed down from his earlier comments that some Pakistan players could have contact with suspected Indian bookmakers and said he was only voicing concern about the possibility of match fixing.

"I never took any names. I only voiced my suspicions like others were doing that the cricket board needed to hold a thorough inquiry into the reports that players might have had contacts with Indian bookmakers in Colombo," Qadir told Geo Super channel.

Qadir was criticised by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt and the team coach Intikhab Alam for making the match fixing accusations.

Butt even threatened the former leg-spinner to take to the court.

"They can take me to the supreme court or high court. I am not scared. I said what everyone else was saying and I did not take any names," he said.

The ICC on Monday cleared the Pakistan players of having contacts with the bookmakers who reportedly tried to approach the cricketers in a Colombo hotel during the recent Test series.