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Dean Jones fears for life over disclosure

Former Australian Test batsman Dean Jones says he fears for his life if he identifies the Indian player who introduced him to a bookmaker.

Jones said the only way he would name the player was if he was subpoenaed to do so.

But if the player is named, it would come as no surprise, he said.

"I'm a bit worried about if he's got mafia connections," Jones said here on Monday.

Jones said he was offered 50,000 US dollars in Sri Lanka in 1992 after he was phoned by an Indian player. He believes he was the first player to be offered money, the year before Shane Warne and Mark Waugh became embroiled in a match-fixing scandal.

He said the Indian player phoned him at the hotel where the team was staying and asked him to meet his friend. He said he agreed, believing it would be for something like a clothing endorsement.

Jones said the Indian player introduced him to an Indian man named John and said he was a bookmaker. Jones said the man then offered him the money and a phone to give forecasting.

"I listened to what he had to say, then I said no," Jones said.

He told the Australian Cricket Board management and players but nothing was done, he said.

"All the players thought that it was a bit funny," he said. "It's not funny now."

Jones said the matter was not treated as serious at the time.

"I think I was the first player to be contacted by these people."

Jones said he was worried about his safety, his family's safety and that of his business clients whom he sends to India.