Bracken"s accuser Mazhar Majeed ''not of good character"

Sydney, Oct.12 : Former Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken has been given strong support last night by officials from the International Cricket Council''s anti-corruption unit, who privately said he was of ''''very good character'''', while describing cricketer agent Mazhar Majeed as being of dubious character.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, 42, as saying it was unlikely Bracken would have been involved in any fixing and said Majeed''s testimony could not be believed because ''''he is not of good character''''.

Latif said bookies were often only interested in luring ''''top players who have influence'''' and players ''''who can change a match''''.

Bracken, who played five Tests and 116 one-day internationals before retiring in January, was once the world''s No.1 ranked one-day international bowler but he had little influence on team decisions.

''''It''s very difficult to put money on lower players, you don''t know what they are going to do,'''' Latif said.

Bracken and his manager, Rob Horton, have rejected any links to Majeed. They were furious last night and feared the reputation of the left-arm seamer would be tainted.

However, Latif, who played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals and, at one stage, announced his retirement in protest over match-fixing suspicions on the 1994 tour of Zimbabwe, maintains he has suspicions about the type of dismissal of two Australian batsmen several years ago.