ICC's anti-corruption unit to quiz Shoaib over claims

KARACHI (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption unit will talk to Pakistan's banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar after he made claims he was offered money to under-perform in South Africa and India.

An ICC spokesman confirmed to Reuters on Thursday that the unit's officers would like to talk to Shoaib over the remarks he made after he was handed a five-year ban on Tuesday by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for disciplinary violations.

"I have rejected many offers in the past to under-perform. It happened in Johannesburg and in India but I never accepted them because I can't betray my country," he said on a television talk show on Wednesday.

"We are aware of his comments and let me reiterate the ICC has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in sports," the spokesman said.

"Our ACU (anti-corruption unit) officers would like to talk to him soon."

Sources in the ICC said officials would soon contact Shoaib as it was binding on players to disclose any approaches to bet on or fix matches.

Pakistan's team manager Talat Ali told Reuters the fast bowler had not informed him or any other official about any approach being made in India on the recent tour.

"He didn't report anything to me. This is the first I have heard about it," Ali said.

The ICC Code of Conduct outlines a minimum ban of one year and maximum of five years for any individual who fails to disclose any approaches from another person to his captain or to his team manager or to a senior board official or to the ICC's officials.