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.
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.
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.
Jordan c
Guest
Did you miss the progression of journalism in the last 15 years?
anon
Roar Pro
Warney and Mark Waugh took cash from bookmakers once. Of course they said it was for just 'pitch information', and they said it was just a once off. But you would say it was a once off if you got caught wouldn't you? And you would say the cash was for pitch information and not spot fixing if you got caught wouldn't you?
Bee bee
Guest
You forgot mathematics and the concept of zero. How would we have cricket scores or stats if it wasn’t for you clever little curry cookers.
Brainstrust
Guest
I think its very naive to believe that one of the richest teams these days would bother fixing over all those teams that hardly get paid. Match fixing is not a big part of the top level of any sport, its usually lower down, except for cricket and thats because you have test teams being paid peanuts.
Brainstrust
Guest
I can;t see any Australia fixing a test match in this era the team is incredibly well paid these days. Losing ones contract is the biggest financial disaster. Australia is one of only three highly paid teams, Along with England and India. In old days they used to make sure Sheffield Shield matches ran into the last day when they were paid by the day. BBL what about that comeback with the fielding side dropping heaps of catches in the last few overs.
AFL man
Guest
Has the whole world gone crazy!
1st&10
Guest
Well said, Glen
1st&10
Guest
Loose lips sink ships in any alleged conspiracy
Glen
Guest
We can't control the rest of the world, but why can't we in Australia just limit gambling to the actual results. Ie who wins or loses. Ban any exotic markets. The fact they exist is ridiculous enough.
Rod
Guest
Who would remember anyway!
1st&10
Guest
Betting Agency Sponsorship and involvement will always generate suspicion Dogs laying on dirt, get Mango Worms and Tics
1st&10
Guest
Betting agencies involved in Sport. Integrity questions associated are just not worth it
DavSA
Guest
When I first heard about Hansie Cronje's involvement in match fixing it absolutely stunned me and shook not just South African but World cricket to its foundations . I am afraid that I have remained a sceptic of the integrity of cricket ever since.
pauld
Guest
No names, but how about 'selections' being a key word in the investigation?
Jake
Guest
t20 world cup? ha ha.
Don
Roar Rookie
Wow... Where did anyone suggest that the NRL are leaders in banning of phones from player’s rooms? And why does an innocuous mention of the NRL immediately draw a meaningless comparison with soccer or AFL?
Rats
Guest
My country's contributions to world cricket.. 5. Sachin Tendulkar 4. Sunil Gavaskar 3. Rahul Dravid 2. One billion fans 1. Bookies It's a shame..
Sage
Roar Rookie
So your comments weren't referring to the actual article here. OK then, interesting approach. And you accuse "your fellow countrymen" of narrow mindedness but then accuse posters of having a small minded Australian mentality about match fixing never happening - which was never said - or drug taking which you are the only one to raise. Good work.
JamesH
Roar Guru
That would take actual investigative journalism, something beyond the Sun.
Simon
Guest
Snooooooooze. A combination of The Sun and some random Indian bookie saying pretty speculative non specific things shouldn't lend itself to much interest in my opinion. It’s certainly possible that there are elements of truth in here, particularly with poorer paid players in the IPL. But it’s also possible to be some seedy booky trying to flex his muscles and almost certainly has nothing to do with this Ashes series