Cricket in the dock – again
THE International Cricket Council has launched an investigation into corruption allegations in the sport made in a documentary to be aired by news organisation Al Jazeera today.
The documentary allegedly uncovers a groundsman agreeing to doctor pitches for Test matches involving some of the world’s top teams.
“The ICC is aware of an investigation into corruption in cricket by a news organisation and as you would expect we will take the contents of the programme and any allegations it may make very seriously,” the governing body said in a statement on its website.
“We have already launched an investigation working with anti-corruption colleagues from Member countries based on the limited information we have received.
“We have made repeated requests that all evidence and supporting materials relating to corruption in cricket is released immediately to enable us to undertake a full and comprehensive investigation.”
The Australian newspaper reported yesterday that the documentary would allege that spot-fixers mad bribed the groundsman at Galle to doctor the pitch used for the 2016 second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia.
The touring side were bowled out for 106 and 183 in the match and lost by 229 runs in less than three days.
Last year’s Test between Sri Lanka and India at Galle was also under suspicion, while match-fixers have also targeted England’s Test at the same venue in November, according to The Australian.
Sri Lanka Cricket later said in a statement that it would fully cooperate with the world governing body as they probe the allegations and that their CEO Ashley De Silva was in contact with ICC’S anti-corruption unit and CEO David Richardson.
“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to state that it has zero tolerance towards corruption and will take immediate action against any person involved in the alleged incident, if found guilty,” the statement added.
Match-fixing has become a major concern in recent years with a high-profile incident involving Pakistan on a previous tour to England forming one of cricket’s low points.
Pakistan’s Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who is back playing for the national team, were part of a gambling-inspired plot to bowl no-balls at prearranged times during a Test gainst England at Lord’s in 2010.
All three served time in prison and handed multi-year bans from the game after an ICC tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing. – Reuters