ICC to probe India-Pakistan WC semi-final match | ICC denies

[Stuge]

London: The International Cricket Council is all set to launch an inquiry into a report in the 'Sunday Times', which claimed that the Indian bookmakers are fixing the results of England county games and international fixtures. The newspaper's investigation has suggested that the bookmakers offer thousands of pounds to the players. About 44,000 pounds to batsmen for slow scoring, 50,000 pounds for bowlers who concede runs and 750,000 pounds for a player or official who can guarantee a match outcome. It also revealed that corruption tainted last year's World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan. The fixers claimed to have recruited players from countries, including England using a Bollywood actress as a honey trap. A Delhi bookmaker has told the newspaper that county cricket "is a good market" as it involves "low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle." The paper has passed on all the informations it gathered from its investigation to the ICC, who said it would investigate into these "serious allegations". "We are grateful for the information you have provided and will launch an inquiry into these serious allegations. "Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars being bet on every match, the threat of corrupters seeking to influence the game has not gone away," an ICC spokesperson said. Just a few weeks ago former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield became the first English cricketer to be jailed for corruption after he admitted taking money to fix a match against Durham in September 2009. Last year, three Pakistan players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -- were also jailed in Britain for 'spot-fixing' in a 2010 Test match against England.

http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/icc-to-probe-india-pakistan-wc-semi-final-match_738993.html

[IKnowU]

[cameron_black]

yeah yuvi's first ball duck seemed a little suspicious to me...

[Prakat]

Smart cameron, figured that going after pakistani players for matchfixing on ICF was pointless.

[Sean Bradley]

I am not surprised, sachin dropped 5 times just aggravates the suspicion.

[b555]

:om:

[Haarkarjeetgaye]

would be great if it turns out to be fixed. Pakistanis will murder their players

[Sachinism]

^^ LOL so true. To sell out in a WC SF against India should be enough for a death warrant by the fans

[Sidhoni]

:ohmy:

[CSK Fan]

Dont tell me that the match needs to be fixed for us to win against Pak

[SLICKR392]

Bleh! Fixing, my ass.

[Lord]

hope it wasnt.otherwise it'll taint our win

[jairamesh]

:hysterical: I didn't know County Cricket had such a massive following in India that bookies could make money from it. Don't know what's more hilarious, Country Cricket is popular in India or 80% of County teams are wallowing near bankruptcy because they get no TV coverage. :hehe: effing joke of an investigation with no logical connections.

[Sachin=GOD]

I hope its not true but with the Papis playing you just can't say anything, even if its the WC Semi Final :nervous:

[jairamesh]

A Delhi bookmaker has told the newspaper that county cricket "is a good market" as it involves "low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle."

Really, as opposed high profile coverage of Ranji games, where every nook and cranny off BCCI and ICC anti-corruption lobby is present and monitors the games! Some of these claims have taken the newspaper on a ride. Though if true, and County games were fixed, and hell sure Ranji games must be articulated choreographed show to maximize bookies profits. Rajasthan winning it twice in a row does raise suspicions!

[ravishingravi]

ICC will probe fresh match fixing claims The International Cricket Council (ICC) is investigating claims that Indian bookmakers are fixing the results of England county games and international fixtures, Britain's Sunday Times reported. The newspaper said it had uncovered evidence that tens of thousands of pounds (dollars) was on offer to players to throw part or all of international matches, including last year's World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan. It cited one Delhi bookmaker boasting that English county cricket was also a "good new market", as it involved "low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle". According to the report, batsmen can earn up to Ž£44,000 ($69,000) for slow scoring and bowlers can earn Ž£50,000 ($78,000) for conceding runs in set patterns, with Ž£750,000 ($1.2 million) on the table for a player or official who can guarantee the outcome of a match. The paper's undercover reporters cite fixers as saying they had recruited players from countries including England with the help of a Bollywood actress in a honeytrap. The allegations come just weeks after former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield became the first English cricketer to be jailed for corruption after admitting accepting money to fix a match against Durham in September 2009. Last year, Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were also jailed in Britain for their role in an entirely separate 'spot-fixing' scandal concerning a 2010 Test match against England. An ICC spokesman said it would investigate the new allegations. "We are grateful for the information you have provided and will launch an inquiry into these serious allegations," he told The Sunday Times. "Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars being bet on every match, the threat of corrupters seeking to influence the game has not gone away." In January, after Westfield had pleaded guilty to his corruption charges, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) launched a "reporting window" to encourage players and officials to come forward with information about corruption. The amnesty allowed them to report past approaches without fear of punishment. It is usually against ECB regulations not to report any alleged corruption within the sport. http://cricket.yahoo.com/news/icc-will-probe-fresh-match-fixing-claims-.html

[SLICKR392]

Re-post mate. http://www.indiancricketfans.com/showthread.php?t=279462

[Sachinism]

:hysterical: I didn't know County Cricket had such a massive following in India that bookies could make money from it. Don't know what's more hilarious, Country Cricket is popular in India or 80% of County teams are wallowing near bankruptcy because they get no TV coverage. :hehe: effing joke of an investigation with no logical connections.

Its not even about being popular. If the matches are broadcasted in India, there will be gamblers who will happily bet on it

[SLICKR392]

Yuvraj's was a good delivery :\ Full length yorker. If anyone was fixing it was Pak..its them who lost.

[CSK Fan]

:hysterical: I didn't know County Cricket had such a massive following in India that bookies could make money from it. Don't know what's more hilarious, Country Cricket is popular in India or 80% of County teams are wallowing near bankruptcy because they get no TV coverage. :hehe: effing joke of an investigation with no logical connections.

Err, though the bookies are Indians, that does not mean the betting audience is Indian. They would be fixing county crickets for English customers, so all the people betting would be in England, not India