SPOT-FIX CLAIMS

Lord’s chiefs deny TV claims about our top stars in seven matches

ENGLAND cricket chiefs have strongly denied allegations of match-fixing made in an explosive TV investigation.

The film, aired by Al Jazeera, claimed that unnamed England players were involved in spot-fixing in SEVEN matches dating back to 2011 and 2012.

The broadcaster also says it has a taped conversation with an England star discussing payments for spot-fixing. Fixing accusations are also levelled at unnamed Australian and Pakistani players.

But the ECB have dismissed the allegations and said the information provided to them by Al Jazeera was “poorly prepared”.

An ECB spokesperson said: “We take our responsibilities on anticorruption and preserving the integrity of cricket very seriously.

“While the limited information we have been given by Al Jazeera is poorly prepared and lacks clarity and corroboration, it has been properly assessed.

“Analysis of this by the ECB integrity team has cast no doubt on the integrity or behaviour of any England player, current or former.

“However, the programme has continued to fail to pass on all its information and evidence to the ICC and the ECB, despite requests, and what it has provided has been disappointing.”

Al Jazeera claims to have recordings of a match-fixer, Aneel Munawar, calling in the fixes to a notorious Indian bookmaker linked to organised crime.

The files suggest that the alleged fixes were carried out by batsmen who agreed to underperform.

Many of the matches appear to include multiple fixes – making a total of 26 fixes in 15 matches.

Twenty-five of the 26 predictions made by Munawar proved to be correct.

Al Jazeera released a similar documentary in May, which alleged that high-profile international matches, including the India versus England match at Chennai in December 2016, were the subject of a spot-fixing plot.

Those allegations were dismissed as “outrageous” by England head coach Trevor Bayliss and “ridiculous” by skipper Joe Root.

Alex Marshall. head of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, said last night: “We take any allegations seriously and will investigate fully.

“However, I must refute the assertion that cricket does not take the issue of corruption seriously.

“We have more resources than ever before working to rid our sport of corruption.

“As with the first programme, we have and will continue to ask for the cooperation of the broadcaster.”