Under a cloud because of recent match-fixing allegations, Pakistan’s cricketers are being extra cautious in a bid to avoid any new scandal during their tour of England that got underway last week. ‘The News’ has learnt through reliable sources that the team management has warned the players against showing any kind of carelessness that might trigger suspicions of match-fixing against the team or any team member.

According to sources, team manager Yawar Saeed has held separate meetings with the players to brief them about precautionary measures aimed at minimising the chances of any ugly episode taking place during the tour that will conclude on September 22.

Sources said that the players have been told in clear terms not to entertain any guests in their hotel rooms apart from their own family members. The instructions, according to sources, are particularly aimed at discouraging the players’ agents from interacting with them during the tour that includes back-to-back series against Australia and England.

In recent times, several of the Pakistan cricketers have signed contracts with different agents, who help them rope in sponsorship deals and club contracts.

Normally, these agents frequently interact with the players and meet with them at the team hotels as well the match venues.

“But this time, the players have been strictly warned by the (Pakistan) team management against inviting their agents at the team hotel or match venues,” said a source.

Pakistan cricket has suffered because of the menace of match-fixing for more than a decade.

In recent times, some of their key players including Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Aamer have made headlines for all the wrong reasons as the finger of suspicion was raised at them over different incidents.

Akmal was accused of match-fixing following his awful performance behind the stumps in the Sydney Test against Australia last January. The stumper dropped Michael Hussey three times allowing the veteran batsman to hit a match-winning hundred in the Test. Kaneria, the Pakistan leg spinner, was questioned by London Police questioned over his alleged role in a major scandal surrounding a Pro40 match he played for Essex last year.

The investigation was focused on alleged spot-fixing in Essex’s match against Durham last September. More recently, suspicions were raised against Aamer after the young pacer was filmed allegedly talking on a cell phone while sitting in the Pakistan dressing room during an Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka in Dambulla last month.

According to ICC code of conduct, players are not allowed to take their mobile phones to the dressing room during international matches. Aamer’s poor show with the bat (5 runs from 14 balls) in the low-scoring match that Pakistan eventually lost further fuelled suspicion. However, the ICC’s anti-corruption unit cleared the youngster of any wrongdoing.