Dubai, Sept. 15: International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat has rubbished media reports that 29 international cricketers are being investigated by its Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) on suspicion of match-fixing.
The media reports emerged after Pakistan’s Test skipper Salman Butt, pacers Mohammed Aamer and Mohammed Asif were suspended by the ICC on charges of spot-fixing in the fourth Test against England at Lord’s.
In a statement Lorgat said on Wednesday: “You may have noted or been subjected to media enquiries or speculation following the recent allegations of spot fixing during the Lord’s Test match.”
“In particular, over the last 24-36 hours we have noted a number of specific unfounded media allegations about individual players being investigated by the ACSU,a so-called list of 29 players! This is to confirm that there is no such list and we believe is simply a way that the media is trying to fish for information without any basis for doing so. If there were any specific players being investigated by ACSU we would have notified the relevant Member Board,” the statement added.
British daily The Times had earlier reported that 29 players are under the ICC scanner for their suspected involvement in match or spot-fixing. The daily also said that two Australians were on the list, but the claim was dismissed by Cricket Australia (CA).
The newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, also reported that some betting patterns were very suspicious at Indian Premier League (IPL)-2 which was held in South Africa last year.