Pakistan welcome tax probe into player assets

Pakistan's associate manager Shafqat Rana and limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi have welcomed reports that their country's tax authorities are to scrutinise players' financial assets.

It emerged in Pakistan yesterday, following the 'spot-fixing' crisis which has resulted in International Cricket Council charges against three players, that the government is to sanction the assistance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Rana and Afridi were speaking at Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium, where the latter is due to lead his team in the second NatWest Series International Twenty20 against England today.

Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and teenager Mohammad Aamer have all been suspended by the ICC - pending charges under the anti-corruption code - after newspaper allegations that they were part of a plot to defraud illegal bookmakers. Asked about the intervention of the FBR, Rana is all in favour of a move he suggested was a possibility long before any Pakistani players were named in connection with the controversy which has rocked cricket.

"I think it's a good thing from the government," he said. "It was in their minds before we came over. Shahid is of the same opinion that it should be done."

Rana also made it clear he does not believe a special case should be made for 18-year-old Aamer - on account of his age and inexperience - should the allegations be proven. "I think it should be the same with everybody who breaks the law. It doesn't matter," he said.

Afridi, who was inevitably asked a series of questions about the off-field furore, said: "People come from ICC and talk about these things, so we all know how to deal with it - if you have any problems you go straight to the manager. The people from ICC are doing their job."