Three of India’s Test matches last year may have been fixed

Attempts were made to influence the course of at least three Test matches featuring India last year, claims a documentary on cricket corruption made by Doha-based broadcaster Al Jazeera’s investigative unit. The TV channel has shared footage of the documentary with Hindustan Times according to which a former Indian first-class cricketer, an advertising executive based in the United Arab Emirates and members of the D-Company, a term used for an organized crime group controlled by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, used their connections in the cricket establishment to influence matches.

The documentary by journalist David Harrison claims to expose how attempts are made to bribe pitch curators, and current and former cricketers to influence matches. It alleges that Pakistan’s Hasan Raza (the youngest to play a Test match) and three Sri Lankan internationals – Dilhara Lokuhettige, Jeevantha Kulatunga and Tharindu Mendis – were involved in attempts to doctor pitches or otherwise influence matches.

The India versus England Test played in Chennai (December 16-20, 2017), the India versus Australia Test in Ranchi (March 16-20, 2017) and the Galle Test between India and Sri Lanka (July 26-29, 2017) were the matches in which bookmakers attempted to interfere, according to the documentary that can be seen online on Sunday at 3.30 PM IST. No Indian Test cricketer was mentioned in the documentary as being involved.

The documentary alleged that at least two Australian cricketers were involved in the Ranchi incident and three Englishmen fixed sessions in Chennai.

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