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Shakib,Tamim join the list

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board has claimed that several senior players including captain Shakib Al Hasan were approached by illegal bookmakers during the home Test series against India earlier this year. Shakib,along with opener Tamim Iqbal,were contacted by match-fixers and the incident was immediately brought to the notice of ICCs ACSU,BCBs media committee chairman Jalal Yunus told Cricinfo. Incidentally,it was for the second time Shakib was approached by bookmakers. The left-hander had earlier this year said that he was contacted by a bookmaker in 2008 as well.

Sponsors sever tie with Amir

Karachi: Pakistan teams official kit supplier,BoomBoom have severed ties with Mohammad Amir and have said they are reviewing their sponsorship deal with the entire team in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal. BoomBoom have a two-year deal as the official kit suppliers of Pakistan cricket team,besides having an individual tie up with Aamer. 8220;We cannot allow our brand to be associated with any whiff of corruption or suspicion of foul play. We feel that it is the right thing to do while a judicial process unfolds and innocence or guilt is established,8221; Ali Ehsan,the MD of the companmy said.

ACU not working: Watson

Sydney: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson on Wednesday blamed the International Cricket Council for the scandal,saying the world body8217;s anti-corruption unit is not really working. 8220;The ICC anti-corruption unit is not really working,8221; he said. 8220;That8217;s totally to do with the ICC,so they really need to step in and really get to the bottom of it. Maybe they don8217;t want to get to the bottom of it because it might run too deep,8221; he added.

Pak-SA series on schedule: Majola

Johannesburg: The fixing scandal will not affect their series against South Africa in October-November,hopes CSA Chief Executive Gerald Majola. 8220;As far as the Cricket South Africa is concerned this is an ICC arrangement and the ICC has not cancelled the tour,8221; said Majola. CSA has even agreed to play an extra game,scheduled to take place before the first Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi,to raise funds for the victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

NZ agency to accept bets

Wellington: New Zealand8217;s state betting agency will accept wagers on cricket matches during Pakistan8217;s December tour despite match fixing investigations into the Pakistan team. Totalisator Agency Board chief bookmaker Mark Stafford said the New Zealand TAB would continue to offer a range of betting options on Pakistan8217;s one-day matches in December,including on the number of runs scored in the first over and the number of sixes hit in a match. 8220;We don8217;t offer spot-betting,which is open to manipulation,8221; he said. 8220;If anything looks remotely unusual,we will shut it down. We have a good audit department who would then get in touch with the right authority,8221; Stanford said.

Fans demand refund of tickets

London: Angry and disillusioned by the 8216;spot-fixing8217; allegations against Pakistan cricketers,upset fans here are demanding ticket refunds while sponsors are having second thoughts about their investment in the sport. 8220;Reaction has been particularly marked in Yorkshire where large numbers of ticket holders have demanded a refund. According to club officials the callers said they were furious about the betting allegations which has now turned into adrama involving at least four investigations,three of them criminal,8221; a report in The Guardian said.

Send guilty to jail: Jennings

Johannesburg: Former South Africa coach Ray Jennings feels that if any cricketer is found to be involved in the recent spot-fixing scandal,they should be imprisoned for violating the sanctity of the game. 8220;Fingers have been pointed for some years now at Pakistan players. If it8217;s found that these players are guilty,a good example should be made of them and they should get prison sentences,8221; said Jennings. 8220;Even lifelong bans would not be good enough for me. All that such players do is to cause great damage to cricket. There is nothing that irritates me more than when the game is threatened by such allegation. There must be something brewing,8221; Jennings told Beeld.

Players have to cooperate: Lorgat

Johannesburg: ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat says he would be at 8220;a loss of words8221; if the 8216;spot-fixing8217; allegations turn out to be true but rejected criticism that the scandal has highlighted the world body8217;s failure to deal with corruption in the game. 8220;We have identified corrupt individuals and advised players to stay away from them. We need cooperation from the players. They must listen to us and also have discipline,8221; Lorgat said.