No Evidence Ashes Test Under Fixing Threat, Says ICC

PERTH (Reuters) - The ICC are taking allegations in a British newspaper about attempts to organise spot-fixing during the third Ashes test “extremely seriously” but do not think the match has been compromised, global cricket’s governing body said on Thursday.

The Sun reported that underground bookmakers from India had offered to sell undercover reporters from the newspaper information about spot-fixing in the test between Australia and England, which starts in Perth on Thursday.

Cricket Australia said the report was a “serious concern”, while the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said they were “aware” of the allegations even if there had been no suggestion any England players were involved.

Spot-fixing occurs when corrupt players agree to manipulate part of a match by, for example, bowling a wide on a particular delivery or ensuring a particular run rate.

The corruption does not usually affect the overall outcome of the match but gamblers in the know can use the information to beat the betting market.

The underground bookmakers told the reporters they had previously manipulated matches in the Indian Premier League and were also targeting Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League.

The newspaper said it had passed all the evidence to the International Cricket Council, who said they would be investigated by its Anti-Corruption Unit.

“From my initial assessment of the material, there is no evidence, either from the Sun or via our own intelligence, to suggest the current test match has been corrupted,” Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager Anti-Corruption, said in a statement.

”At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication that any players in this test have been in contact with the alleged fixers.

“The allegations are wide ranging and relate to various forms cricket in several countries, including T20 tournaments. We will look closely at all the information as part of our investigation.”

A spokesman for Cricket Australia said the body took “a zero-tolerance approach against anybody trying to bring the game into disrepute”.

“Cricket Australia will co-operate fully with any ICC Anti-Corruption Unit investigation,” he said.

”Australian cricket has a long-standing, proactive approach to sports integrity management ...

“Players are able to report any suspicions they have on a confidential basis and in the past there has been a strong Australian player culture to do so.”

The ECB said the body worked closely with the ICC and its Anti-Corruption unit to “protect the integrity” of cricket.

“We are aware of these allegations and there is no suggestion that any of the England team is involved in any way,” said a spokesman.

Four Pakistan cricketers were jailed in Britain in 2011 and banned from the game for lengthy periods after taking money from a bookmaker to spot-fix during a test against England at Lord’s in 2010.