Afridi says players are well educated about the dangers of dealing with strangers

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi says players are well educated about the dangers of dealing with strangers

Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi insisted yesterday that his players had been educated by officials over the dangers of corruption as the 'spot-fixing' row engulfing his side rumbled on.

Some pundits have questioned whether Pakistan's players have been made properly aware of the risks of possible corruption.

But Afridi, speaking to reporters at Sophia Gardens here ahead of the second Twenty20 international at the ground today, said: "The people are coming from the ICC (International Cricket Council) and they are always talking about these things.

"If you have any problems, you definitely go straight to the (team) manager and talk to him. I think we all know about these things so I think the people from ICC are doing their work."

Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have been suspended from the international game after Britain's News of the World tabloid allegedly caught Mazhar Majeed, a London-based businessman, organising no-balls to order during last month's Lord's Test against England. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has been among those, including former England captain Michael Atherton, who have suggested the 18-year-old Amir's age should be taken into consideration if the charges against him were proved.

But Pakistan associate manager Shafqat Rana ruled out youth as a defence. "I think it should be the same with everybody, if he breaks the law," Rana, sat alongside Afridi, said. "It (Amir's age) doesn't matter." Amir's fellow seamer Asif once played alongside Stuart Broad at English county side Leicestershire. England quick Broad, speaking earlier here said he was such an admirer of Asif he'd planned to speak to him ahead of England's defence of the Ashes later this year about how to bowl in Australia.

But asked if he sympathised with the situation the Pakistan team found themselves in as a result of the allegations, Broad replied: "Sympathy? No."

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