Always reported ‘untoward things’ during IPL to ACU, says Maxwell

Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell has claimed that he has reported “certain untoward things” during the IPL to the anti-corruption Unit (ACU) officials while refuting a recent investigative documentary’s insinuation that he could be involved in spot-fixing.

An Al Jazeera documentary on corruption in cricket alleged that Australian players were involved in spot-fixing during the 2017 Ranchi Test against India, in which Maxwell made his maiden Test century after being recalled.

Even as there was no direct reference to the all-rounder in the video, the match footage used in the documentary indicated that Maxwell was one of two Australian players being accused.

He confirmed to ‘SEN radio’ that the aired footage was of his batting. “I’ve been very honest with them [anticorruption officers] the whole way through with the IPL,” Maxwell said.

“If I’ve ever seen anything untoward I always sat down with them [ACU], had a long coffee and just talked about everything to make sure nothing ever, ever comes back to me,” he said.

An International Cricket Council (ICC) investigation into the allegations is currently underway.

“If there’s anything slightly amiss, I always give them a call and make sure they have every bit of evidence they can possibly have,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell said that it was easier when he captained Kings XI Punjab in 2015 IPL. “It was probably easier when I was captain and I was able to see the way the game was going, and the instructions that I was giving players, and the way the game was moving, I could actually work it out a little better.

“There wasn’t really anything untoward in the season I was captain, but you could certainly tell from opposition stuff and that’s why I reported certain things,” he said.