ICC chief urges TV channel for evidence to prove fixing claims
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive David Richardson on Friday once again urged the Al Jazeera network to provide unedited footage of their sting operation on alleged spot-fixing and pitchfixing in Test matches involving big teams like India, Australia and England.
The ICC has been demanding unedited footage and GM (ACU) Alex Marshall said that Al Jazeera has not co-operated, something that Richardson reiterated on Friday. “I ask Al Jazeera to release to us all the material they have relating to corruption in cricket. We will conduct a full, thorough and fair investigation and will ensure no stone is left unturned as we examine all allegations of corruption made in the programme,” Richardson said in a statement.
“To do so, we need to see all the evidence they state they possess.”
Al Jazeera is not willing to share unedited footage as it claims it will reveal their sources. Richardson assured the Qatar-based network that their “sources will be protected”. “I am encouraged by their public commitment to co-operate and now ask that they do so, in releasing all relevant material. We understand and fully respect the need to protect journalistic sources and our ACU team have worked with other media companies on that basis.
“However, to prove or disprove these allegations, we need to see the evidence referred to in the programme,” Richardson said.
Al Jazeera had aired a documentary where an alleged member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang (better known as ‘D Company’) Aneel Munnawar was seen talking about fixing pitches and results to an undercover reporter.
Former Pakistan Test cricketer Hasan Raza and former Mumbai first-class cricketer Robin Morris were also seen bragging about fixing games.
Three Test matches involving India (vs Sri Lanka in Galle, vs England in Chennai and vs Australia in Ranchi) are under scanner after the sting. The channel had ‘beeped’ the names of England and Australian cricketers, citing the ongoing ICC investigation.
However, both Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board have come out strongly in support of their players, rejecting charges of corruption. In an extremely disappointing day for India at the French Open, Yuki Bhambri, Divij Sharan and Rohan Bopanna bowed out of different events on an all-defeat day for the country at the clay court Grand Slam, here.
First up was the pair of Yuki and Sharan in the men’s doubles second round but the second seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic prevailed over the Indians with a 7-5, 6-3 win.
Yuki, playing at French Open for the first time in his career, had already lost his singles, so his challenge ended at the second major of the year without much success.
Sharan again took court for the mixed doubles, teaming up with Japan’s Shuko Aoyama, but they frittered away a one-set advantage to lose 6-2, 3-6, 5-10 to Katarina Srebotnik and Santiago Gonzalez.
Bopanna and his partner Timea Babos suffered a tame 2-6, 3-6 defeat against John Peers and Shuai Zhang. Last year Bopanna had won his maiden Grand Slam trophy with Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski.
Bopanna is still alive in the men’s doubles event with partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin, and they are awaiting their third round opponents having cantered to a straight sets win on Thursday night.
“We will conduct a full, thorough and fair investigation and will ensure that no stone is left unturned as we examine all allegations of corruption made in the programme”