Rotorua: World's youngest Test batsman Hasan Raza, hailing from Pakistan, on Monday denied his role in the ongoing match-fixing saga.
The 36-year-old Pakistani batsman has been linked with the recent spot-fixing allegations.
On Sunday, in a documentary, titled ‘ Cricket’s Match-Fixers’, aired by Al Jazeera, stated that Robin Morris, a former Indian first-class cricketer had bribed a groundsman in Galle, Sri Lanka in order to doctor the pitch.
Speaking from Karachi, he said, "my name in unnecessarily being dragged into this controversy.
In the sting operation video, Raza can be seen seated next to Robin Morris, but did not participate in the conversation.
"I do agree having met Robin Morris but I met him to engage some players for the T-20 league matches. There was no role of my in engaging the discussions on fixing the match or the pitch,” he said.
"During our conversation, a foreigner had joined".
"Our meeting took place in UAE and I had not gone to Sri lanka to meet any players there,” he claimed.
"Being a cricketer, I am in contact with so many international cricketers and that does not prove my role in fixing the matches".
"I am holding world's youngest Test cricketer record and these allegations are spoiling my image,” the cricketer continued.
Interestingly, Raza has played alongside Morris for Mumbai Champs in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL).
"I stayed in UAE for three years and had I stayed there for six more months, would have been eligible for the UAE national team. "There is certainly some bad elements want my image be tarnished,” he stated.
When asked if he would hire a lawyer to look into the issue, the 36-year-old from Karachi said that he would.
"Yes, if necessary, I shall hire a lawyer to fight my case", he signed off.
