Scotland Yard finds no solid evidence of matchfixing - ICC Suspends Trio

[EnterTheVoid]

The chairman of a UK commission set up to investigate the threat of gambling-related corruption in sport has told Cricinfo he believes there will be insufficient evidence for police to press charges against Mazhar Majeed, the alleged fixer who was caught on camera accepting money from an undercover reporter in a News of the World sting. Rick Parry, the former chief executive of Liverpool Football Club, told Cricinfo's Switch Hit podcast that, despite a dossier of apparently damning evidence - including video footage of Majeed appearing to correctly predict the timing of three no-balls bowled by Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir during the first two days of the Lord's Test - the case was likely to flounder unless evidence of illegal betting activity was found to back up the claims. "I don't think [the case] has any evidence at all," said Parry. "Unless the News of the World placed a bet - which would be highly unlikely because in so doing they would have carried out a criminal act - then there doesn't appear to be any betting activity at all associated with these particular allegations. It places the ball, to pardon the pun, squarely back into the hands of the cricket authorities." Under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, which made cheating in sport for financial gain a criminal activity in the UK, it had been hoped that the very fact that these latest allegations had taken place in the country would help to carry them forward into the courts, and lead to a high-profile case that could act as a deterrent to others who might be tempted into similar wrongdoing. However, Parry said that until such time that further evidence was unearthed, the greater onus would have to fall on cricket's governing bodies to live up to their promise, reiterated by the ICC's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, on Monday, to take "prompt and decisive action" against anyone found guilty of match-fixing. "The ICC is very much in the spotlight on this one, and so it can't afford not to [act]," he said. "When you see the publicity like we've had over the last couple of days, there can't be a single reason not to take the right action, because it's the reputation of the sport at stake, and nothing can be more important than that. Everyone connected with sport - participants and spectators - have a basic right to believe that sport is clean and that everyone is doing their best, because that goes right to the root of what's good about sport." Parry did, however, credit the ICC for taking a lead among sporting governing bodies in attempting to police corruption its own issues, but added that more effort clearly needed to be put into the education of its young players, particularly in light of Amir's alleged involvement in the Lord's furore. "I think one of the great sadnesses of all of this, and it's a widely held view, is that a great young talent like Amir has been implicated in this one," said Parry. "I think that's what perhaps separates this from many other cases, because it suggests that the bad guys got to him before the good guys did. One of the fundamental recommendations of our panel, along with disciplinary measures and sanctions, is that it's absolutely fundamental to have education processes in place, so that players and participants are taught from a very, very young age, first of all what the rules mean, so that there can be no excuses, and secondly that they are vulnerable to outside influences." "To be fair to cricket, at ICC level they have taken very significant steps," he added. "They were one of the first sports to set up a proper integrity unit, in the wake of previous major issues such as Hansie Cronje scandal, so I don't think it can be said that the cricket authorities have done nothing. But in terms of educating the players, it could be that they've not done enough. It would have to be a shock that a talent that has broken onto the scene so very, very quickly is at the centre of all this. "He'd have been enrolled in a cricket academy from a young age, and from the moment he shot to prominence with the international squad, you'd think that the Pakistan Cricket Board might have recognised a vulnerability and a need to put an arm around him. I can't imagine it would have been that difficult to do, because when you read of the sums involved in betting in the Far East - with up to $500 million on a single game - the temptation is potentially there for relatively lowly paid cricketers. It's beholden upon the authorities to step in and provide appropriate support systems." http://www.cricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/content/current/story/475246.html

[Sachinism]

Aint that a bunt ICC should still have the right to ban them for breaking the rules. Because if PCB are given a chance to let the players get away scott-free, they'll do that

[siddhu]

WTF do they mean that there is no evidence? he is seen accepting the money... in tune to 150k pounds. he "predicts" that no-balls will be bowled and it happens that way and still there is no evidence???:((:(( So these cheats will keep on playing??

[IKnowU]

Best thing to do is. Relegate them and make them play against associate nations for good 1-2 years. They will keep playing cricket and have plenty of time to clean out their dirty closet.

[DomainK]

WTF do they mean that there is no evidence? he is seen accepting the money... in tune to 150k pounds. he "predicts" that no-balls will be bowled and it happens that way and still there is no evidence???:((:(( So these cheats will keep on playing??

Yes. And if they do, I think the rest of ICC members need to get together and refuse to play with Pakistan.

[Gunner_Mania]

WTF do they mean that there is no evidence? he is seen accepting the money... in tune to 150k pounds. he "predicts" that no-balls will be bowled and it happens that way and still there is no evidence???:((:(( So these cheats will keep on playing??

a) No bets were placed. If any were placed with bookies in the sub-continet it would be impossible to prove it, infact it would be a long shot to even prove the bookmakers exist in the first place. b) Bets were not placed in the UK, if NOTW had succesfully placed a bet, they would have been breaking the law by doing spot fixing themselves. c) Even if it was proved that bets were placed with bookmakers in India, Scotland yard's jurisdiction wont extend there and they would have to hand it over to the police in the sub continent case.

[siddhu]

Yes. And if they do' date=' I think the rest of ICC members need to get together and refuse to play with Pakistan.[/quote'] I doubt that will happen though... The players may feel strongly about not playing with these cheats. But they may be coerced by their boards in playing. Just look at the England situation. Strauss and company might not want to play but England board does not seem to be pulling out of the T20 and ODIs. So in all, nothing is going to happen. the cheats will keep on cheating, and their will be no action against them... what a ****ed up system...:((:((

[satyam1729]

Atleast they won't play in IPL and against India

[DomainK]

I doubt that will happen though... The players may feel strongly about not playing with these cheats. But they may be coerced by their boards in playing. Just look at the England situation. Strauss and company might not want to play but England board does not seem to be pulling out of the T20 and ODIs. So in all, nothing is going to happen. the cheats will keep on cheating, and their will be no action against them... what a ****ed up system...:((:((

Cant blame England for that. They cant really say "no" to the series when the players have not even been formally charged. Pakistan should have shown some shame and withdrawn from the series.

[DomainK]

Atleast they won't play in IPL and against India

How do you know? Tell that to SRK.

[siddhu]

Cant blame England for that. They cant really say "no" to the series when the players have not even been formally charged. Pakistan should have shown some shame and withdrawn from the series.

If they had any sort of shame.. they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. But they being the most shameless creatures on the planet... lie.. lie.. lie to the whole world, play the victim and racist card at the drop of the hat. When the allegations started I was seriously hoped that cricket will at least be cleansed of these cheaters.

[SachDan]

Yes. And if they do' date=' I think the rest of ICC members need to get together and refuse to play with Pakistan.[/quote'] The South African cricket board has agreed to play its series against Pakistan. CSA chief executive Gerald Majola says, "The tour of Pakistan is part of the ICC Future Tours' Program, which we have to honour, unless instructed otherwise by the International Cricket Council. As such, the tour will go ahead as planned." However CSA has refrained itself from commenting on current match-fixing scandal. The series consisting of two T-20s and five ODIs starts on October 27 and will be played United Arab Emirates. link

[don_corleone840]

In the case of Azharuddin and Jadeja, there were no clear witnesses, no videos or audio tapes. The only 'evidence' was the statement of a bookie that he had spoken to Azharuddin and Jadeja. Despite Azhar being a powerful person in Indian cricket, he was handed a life ban and it has indeed stayed as a life ban. Probably if the players went to a tribunal they might have won their case. Despite that, BCCI acted swiftly and decisively. Here there is a mountain of evidence and it is time ICC followed BCCI's lead on the latest corruption case. Yes innocent until proven guilty but a suspension has to be a minimum now until the investigation is completed.

[Rajan]

This guy is looking at the whole episode in the view of "winnable evidence in the court".. as far as ICC anti corruption unit and the relevant ICC rules abided by all member countries, the available evidence is certainly enough. We can be sure of a ban on the 3 players from ICC. Having said that, I would not be surprised if PCB & Pak Govt , in a face saving exercise, provide enough resources and all behind the scene support to the banned cricketers and award a supreme court of pakistan judgement AGAINST the ban and legally instruct the PCB to select the 3 players for pakistan team. ICC headed by our own scheming, cunning, "vote 4 me, i will scratch your back' Pawar would make a token representation in the case and accept defeat and cite court ruling to allow these scums to be selected again and participate in ICC events including 2011 world cup. shameless people there deserve the shameless cricketers but unfortunately other teams and their players & fans would feel disappointed. but who cares? do they have a vote in ICC elections?

[The Outsider]

Fixing cases will always be notoriously difficult to prove in a court as criminal cases. However, it should have no bearing on any action ICC takes.

[goose]

The law governing sports needs to be brought more into line with financial markets. It should not matter that NOTW did not actually bet. If one can prove that Aamir et al passed on inside information that was not in the public domain that ought to be a criminal offence right there. If we were talking about the director of a major company leaking company results to NOTW I'm pretty sure he'd be committing a crime regardless of what was done with that information.

[Mamu]

Atleast they won't play in IPL and against India

Don't count on this. With Sharad "Fat Ass" Pawar leading the whole thing, you never know. It fact no matter who leads -- you never know. These bastards know only one thing - Money ! -- Morality, Humility, Security etc as way down in their list of priorities, if at all ! With these idiots liciking their lips over a series with Pakis, will push their damn cricketers across the border into the Terror Den, they dont care about cricketers lives. I have said this before and will say this again -- India will be the 1st country to tour Pakistan -- mark my words ! In fact had it not been for Sachin and other seniors in the team, they probably would have already done so -- to demostrate -- "Aaman Kee Aasha", "Maa Kee Asha" and "L***da Kee Asha"

[Fetch_it]

In fact had it not been for Sachin and other seniors in the team, they probably would have already done so -- to demostrate -- "Aaman Kee Aasha", "Maa Kee Asha" and "L***da Kee Asha"

Exactly.

[Rajan]

Don't count on this. With Sharad "Fat Ass" Pawar leading the whole thing, you never know. It fact no matter who leads -- you never know. These bastards know only one thing - Money ! -- Morality, Humility, Security etc as way down in their list of priorities, if at all ! With these idiots liciking their lips over a series with Pakis, will push their damn cricketers across the border into the Terror Den, they dont care about cricketers lives. I have said this before and will say this again -- India will be the 1st country to tour Pakistan -- mark my words ! In fact had it not been for Sachin and other seniors in the team, they probably would have already done so -- to demostrate -- "Aaman Kee Aasha", "Maa Kee Asha" and "L***da Kee Asha"

am sure that honour will go to Zimboks /BD and among the Top tier test nations- SL... not even sure whether india will tour again in the next 3 years

[cowboysfan]

the ICC now has an easy out to this if the police cannot make the charges stick.my prediction is that they will go scot free.