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UPDATE: James Sutherland, ICC react to third Ashes Test spot-fixing claims

14th December, 2017
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The WACA is bidding farewell to the Ashes. (Photo: Wiki Commons)
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14th December, 2017
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The ICC has reacted swiftly to allegations of spot-fixing which have marred the lead-up to the third Ashes Test in Perth today.

Alex Marshall, the general manager of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, said that, while the reports were being taken seriously, he did not believe the integrity of the Ashes Test had been compromised.

“We have now received all materials relating to the Sun investigation. We take the allegations extremely seriously and they will be investigated by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit working with anti-corruption colleagues from member countries,” Marshall said.

“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. 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.

“We ask anyone with information about these allegations to get in touch with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit via contactacu@icc-cricket.com.”

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland also pointed to that lack of evidence, saying that while CA, the ECB and ICC had no tolerance for corruption in the sport, he had “full confidence” in the Australian players.

British newspaper the Sun had earlier handed over a dossier to the ICC supposedly containing evidence of attempts to fix today’s Test, prompting the investigation from world cricket’s governing body.

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In an article published on Wednesday (UK time), the Sun claimed two bookmakers offered to sell details of fixed periods of play to undercover reporters.

The bookmakers were asking for amounts of up to £140,000 ($246,000 AUD) for the spot-fixing.

According to the Sun, the fixers claimed they worked with a number of “puppet” players, as well as a fixer in Australian cricket known as “The Silent Man”. The bookmakers claimed “The Silent Man” works with a number of international cricketers, including a “World Cup-winning all-rounder”.

None of the players were named by the Sun, and no current England players were reported to be involved.

The article also alleges the bookmakers had targeted the Big Bash, claiming there were four to five games in which they would get “confirmed news.” The IPL was also mentioned as a target for fixers.

Cricket Australia quickly released a statement in response to the reports, saying they would cooperate fully with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit investigation.

Full statement from Cricket Australia
The allegations raised by media outlets are of serious concern. Cricket Australia takes 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.

Australian cricket has a long-standing, proactive approach to sports integrity management and Cricket Australia has a dedicated Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) to prevent corruption within Australian domestic competitions, including the BBL.

In addition to this, all players participating in CA sanctioned competitions, including the BBL, are required to complete an anti-corruption education session before they can compete.

CA works closely with the ICC ACU on all international fixtures played in Australia.

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.

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Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland will front the media in Perth at 9:45am local time (12:45 AEDT).

Cricket has long been troubled by match-fixing scandals. Shane Warne and Mark Waugh were caught giving information about a pitch and team selection to an Indian bookmaker in 1994, and six years later, then-South Africa captain Hanse Cronje was caught match-fixing in a scandal which saw him and Mohammad Azharuddin handed life bans, and Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams two-year bans.

More recently, cricket was rocked by the Pakistan spot-fixing scandal of 2010, when Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were paid to bowl no-balls at specific times. Amir was banned from playing cricket for five years, Asif for seven and captain Salman Butt for ten, and all were later sentenced to jail after a criminal fraud probe.

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