Mumbai, October 31: Wielding the mike with as much gusto as he does the bat, dashing Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Sunday said he was least concerned about a radical move by the cricket authorities to send undercover agents to players posing as illegal bookmakers.
“I am not bothered whether they are undercover or overcover. I am clean. Only those who have something to hide need be concerned. I know my role and goals,” said Sehwag at a media conference on Sunday.
He was reacting to Australian media reports saying that the International Cricket Council was considering such a plan to root out allegations of corruption that has rocked Pakistan cricket.
The ICC agents will approach cricketers to see if they report the encounters and players who do not report the approaches would be penalised under the anti-corruption code, with sanctions ranging from warnings to fines and suspensions, an Australian newspaper had reported.
“We are thinking of setting up our own approaches to players, to see if they report it, we will think out of the box,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat told the newspaper adding that it was only a tentative plan.
Sehwag was effusive in his praise of Gary Kirsten, who was recently hailed by his idol Sachin Tendulkar, and said the former South Africa opener never tried to change his style of batting and always encouraged him.
“He has just allowed me to play my game. He never ever has told me to change it. Even when I get out in the 20s and 30s he has always been encouraging, saying he knew that if I am there for an hour I have done my job. He’s doing his job very well and everyone in the team is happy,” Sehwag said.
He echoed Tendulkar’s views on the role played by Kirsten in the success of the Indian squad which is ranked no. 1 in Tests.
“Gary has been instrumental in making our batters play a plenty of deliveries in the practice session. During net practice, he himself bowls thousands and thousands of balls,” Tendulkar said after accepting the ICC Player of the Year Award at Bangalore earlier this month.
“Gary has been an important member of the Indian squad and along with the other support staff. I have enjoyed my game under him. He is really putting a lot of efforts,” the champion batsman added.
Sehwag also warned against taking New Zealand lightly following the Kiwis’ shocking 0-4 loss to Bangladesh in the recent ODI series in the latter’s backyard.
“Bangladesh can always upset anyone in one-day cricket. It depends on us, how well we play. Against Australia we played very well and chased 289 (at Mohali and won the opening Test). It’s important to maintain our form before the World Cup,” he said.
–Agencies