The Pakistan cricket team was hit by new allegations of spot-fixing on Saturday as the International Cricket Council launched an investigation into the third one-day international between England and Pakistan at the Oval in London on Friday. Pakistan won the match by 23 runs.
The ICC said it had launched the investigation based on information passed on by the Sun newspaper, which suggested that the match was fixed by an illegal betting syndicate.
The Sun claimed it had evidence apparently showing that bookies knew details of Pakistan’s innings before the match even began, suggesting that the scoring pattern in Pakistan’s innings was prearranged. It also alleged that “illegal bookies in India and Dubai” apparently knew in advance what would happen in the match. The ICC investigation will centre on suspicious scoring patterns in Pakistan’s innings and on two suspect overs during the match at the Oval.
The newspaper, which said it had received details of calls between a notorious Dubai-based match-fixer and a Delhi bookie, did not reveal any details of alleged spot-fixing in the ODI to facilitate the ICC probe.
The Sun reported that an individual in the Pakistani team camp is believed to be the ringleader. “The Sun is withholding details of the alleged fix while the investigation continues — but we can reveal that horrified ICC chiefs launched their investigation before the Pakistan innings had even finished. The probe centres on an individual within the team camp who is believed to be the ringleader, taking money from bookies and ensuring their orders are carried out,” the paper said.
The Sun had informed ICC inspectors of the alleged spot-fixing before the match began. The result of the match, which was won by Pakistan, is not being investigated, only scoring rates in parts of Pakistan’s innings are under suspicion, the Sun said.
The ICC is also investigating whether the same cartel rigged a Test between Pakistan and Australia in July after allegedly paying players £700,000, the newspaper claimed. However, there was no confirmation of this detail by the ICC.
The ICC probe comes just weeks after an investigation into illegal spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test match between Pakistan and England was launched by the cricket council and Scotland Yard.
Pakistan captain Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and bowler Wahab Riaz have been questioned by the Met police. However, none of the cricketers were arrested or detained.
The police had only arrested 35-year-old Mazhar Majeed, the owner of Croydon Athletic football club, who was released on bail. Majeed is accused of accepting £150,000 from a British tabloid for spot-fixing by some Pakistani cricketers during the Test at Lord’s.
The ICC has provisionally suspended three players, Butt, Asif and Amir, but has taken no action against Wahab Riaz, who was questioned this Tuesday over allegations of corruption.
The ICC said on Saturday that a full investigation was warranted after receiving information from the newspaper and its source. “A source informed the Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement issued by the ICC from Dubai. “We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full inquiry into this particular game although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred. Only in the fullness of the investigation can that be established,” he added.
“We thank the Sun newspaper for its information and cooperation in this regard and we will work with its staff and sources to ensure the full truth surrounding this match is ascertained,” Mr Lorgat said.
Mr Lorgat reiterated the council’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption in cricket. “The ICC maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in cricket and, as a matter of course, follows up on all credible information that is received, whatever the source. Any player or official found guilty of an offence will face the full rigour of our robust anti-corruption code so that we can ensure the integrity of the sport is maintained,” he said.
The England and Wales Cricket Board on Saturday afternoon issued a statement seeking assurances from the ICC president that “the ICC does not have evidence which could result in either charges or suspension of players prior to the conclusion of the current NatWest Series”.
“No substantive evidence has been shared with the ECB or PCB at this stage,” the ECB said in a statement after a board meeting. The ECB added, “The ICC is not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred nor has yet been proven in relation to the third NatWest Series one-day international between England and Pakistan.”
The ECB said that it “has received confirmation that no England players nor member of management are involved in any allegation linked with ACSU activities.” The ECB board said that “until the ICC substantiate that any allegations are correct no further action can be taken”.