ICC probes India match-fixing reports

Thursday 14th of December 2017

The International Cricket Council has opened an investigation into allegations made by the U.K.’s Sun newspaper that the third Ashes test has been targeted in an Indian illegal gambling scam, but says it sees no evidence as yet.

“We have now received all materials relating to The Sun investigation. We take the allegations extremely seriously and they will be investigated by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit working with anti-corruption colleagues from Member countries,” Alex Marshall, general manager of the anti-corruption unit said in a statement.

“From my initial assessment of the material, there is no evidence, either from The Sun or via our own intelligence, to suggest the current Test Match has been corrupted. At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication that any players in this Test have been in contact with the alleged fixers.

“The allegations are wide ranging and relate to various forms cricket in several countries, including T20 tournaments. We will look closely at all the information as part of our investigation.”

The Sun claimed that the third Ashes test has been compromised following an underground investigation. It says a former Indian state cricketer and a bookmaker said they could fix matches at both the local and international level.

Sobers Joban, an Indian state cricketer, and Priyank Saxena, a bookmaker, told the journalists they work with a fixer in Australian cricket known as the “Silent Man”, adding that he has contact with past and current international players. Spot-fixing – the act of manipulating small passages of play – could be arranged for sums up to £140,000.

Players relay information to spotters in the crowd through a series of pre-arranged signals, such as changing gloves, or different sleeve lengths.

Spotters in the crowd then tell bookies who quickly bet millions into the underground Indian market.

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