Former Test umpire Darrell Hair was not surprised by the recent match-fixing scandal as he claimed that ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) had issued a warning a decade ago mentioning the possibilities of Pakistan bowling deliberate no-balls in matches.
"It didn't shock me at all," Hair said.
"When the ICC's Anti-Corruption unit was formed they spoke to all the leading umpires and said there were concerns in tournaments in places like Sharjah that the Pakistanis were bowling (deliberate) no balls and wides. They also mentioned the possibility of strange dismissals," the former Australia umpire was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun today.
Hair, however, said that ACSU could not come out with any specific evidence that time.
"But they have not been able to get any proof," he said.
His comments came a couple of days after a spot-fixing scandal rocked international cricket following a sting operation by British tabloid, which claimed that deliberate no-balls were bowled by Pakistani bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir during the fourth Test against England at Lord's.
Scotland Yard detectives had also visited the Pakistan dressing room after the third day's play to question some players, including captain Salman Butt.
