The former girlfriend of Pakistan's suspended fast bowler Mohammad Asif was reported in British media Tuesday saying she received death threats soon after meeting International Cricket Council officials to discuss match-fixing. Actress Veena Malik told British tabloid The Sun that she received an e-mail saying “don't talk to the media, keep your mouth shut ... I'll kill you, watch what I do.” Officials of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit met Malik earlier this month after she went public with allegations about Asif's activities. Asif, Test captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir have been suspended by the ICC over spot-fixing allegations. The actresses' allegations came amid a broadening corruption scandal enveloping Pakistan's ongoing tour of England. Malik claimed Asif was in contact with someone in India to fix betting markets. “They were offering Asif 25,000 pounds sterling ($38,849) to play badly but he said he needed 128,000 pounds sterling ($198,935),” she said. “It was a couple of weeks before Pakistan's tour of Australia.” Australia routed Pakistan 3-0 in the Test series and 5-0 in the one-day series besides winning the only Twenty20 international. “One day I told him I was praying for them to win. He replied, ‘Why are you wasting your time? We are not going to win anything until December 2010'. When I realized what he meant, I told him it was over between us and I decided to talk about it.” Asif's career had been dogged by a string of controversies. He was sent home from the Champions Trophy in India in 2006 after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. In 2008 he was suspended from international cricket after he again failed a doping test while competing for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League. He was also detained at Dubai airport for 19 days when opium was found in his wallet, an offense for which he was fined one million rupees ($12,250) by the PCB. Malik alleged Asif paid bribes to avoid more serious punishments. “He also told me he handed over money to avoid a lifetime ban after failing a dope test in India,” Malik said. “He said, ‘Money can buy anything, money can buy everything. I paid the money and now I'm OK'.” Malik denied she was making the allegations public to get back at Asif after their relationship failed. “It's my moral duty to speak out, it will take a lifetime for fans to trust the players again,” Malik said. “These guys think they are invincible. But they have to be punished.” Minister vows action Pakistan's sports minister Tuesday vowed tough action against anyone in cricket found guilty of spot-fixing after the beleaguered national team was hit by fresh allegations. “Four of our players are under investigation and Scotland Yard has given an initial report to the Crown Prosecution for further action,” Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani told parliament. “We are waiting for the investigation to complete and if any player is found guilty then we will take strong action,” said Jakhrani.
