Betting patterns, Pakistan collapse raise fixing fears; ICC probe on: Report

ICC’s ACSU is believed to have requested data from international betting markets about match fixing following an erratic performance by Pakistan.

Jos Buttler broke his own England record for the fastest one-day international century, reaching his hundred in 46 balls, as the visitors beat Pakistan by 84 runs to win the series 3-1 in Dubai. (Source: AP)

England’s six-wicket win over Pakistan in the third ODI in Sharjah played on Tuesday is being investigated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after suspicious betting patterns emerged during the game, a British tabloid reported on Friday. The ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) is believed to have requested data from international betting markets about match fixing following an erratic performance by Pakistan in that match.

The ICC have been told that twice the ‘normal’ amount of money was wagered on Pakistan in a game, which attracted more than £20million in bets on Betfair, a international betting website.

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England won the ODI by six wickets after Pakistan collapsed from 132/2 to 208 all out. Pakistan’s innings included three farcical run-outs. They later dropped three catches and missed a stumping. These incidents have raised an alarm, according to a report published in the Daily Mail. It added that the officials were tipped off after toss in Sharjah that the ‘illegal Indian betting market was expecting Pakistan to underperform.’

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As per the report, the ICC was informed that there could ‘at least be an attempt’ to manipulate the betting odds in favour of syndicates who would be betting huge sums.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan’s tweets added fuel to fire. Vaughan questioned Pakistan’s performance on social media but later deleted those tweets. “3 run outs and a few iffy shots from Pakistan. Never seen that before!!’ he tweeted. He followed that with: “They must all think we are stupid.” The paper quoted ACSU source as saying: “After comments like that we couldn’t ignore it but we also had other reasons to look into it.”

The unit has found betting patters suspicious. A day before the Sharjah match, England were regarded as strong favourites to win whereas Pakistan had few takers on Betfair, which Indian bookies are believed to use to help manage their accounts. The trend has raised eyebrows as England generally are not a side who succeed in Asia.

During the match, when Pakistan just two wickets down, they were favourites to win but the quick fall of wickets that followed produced what is known as a ‘flip flop’ – when the betting odds are reversed in dramatic and rapid fashion.
It is believed that the ICC have asked for help from betting experts in analysing the unusual data, with the focus likely to be on finding out whether orchestrated spot-fixing took place during the match.

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