Once bitten but never shy? ICC probes Paks Friday ODI for fixing

Even as the ICC is probing the spot-fixing allegations during the Lords Test match involving three Pakistani cricketers.

Even as the ICC is probing the spot-fixing allegations during the Lords Test match involving three Pakistani cricketers,the world body was forced to launch a fresh investigation into Fridays third ODI between England and Pakistan which the latter won by 23 runs to keep their hopes alive in the five-match series.

British tabloid The Sun carried a report under the headline Theyre bat it again saying that bookies knew details of Pakistans innings before the match even began.

Illegal bookies in India and Dubai apparently knew in advance what would happen so they could launch a betting coup. But The Suns undercover team was able to pass details to ICC inspectors before the match began. Cricket chiefs then watched as Pakistans score mirrored the target that bookies had been told in advance by a fixer. It is not thought that the overall result was fixed,only scoring rates in parts of Pakistans innings, the report said.

We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full enquiry into this particular game although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said.

The ICC maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption. Any player or official found guilty of an offence will face the full rigour of our robust Anti-Corruption Code so that we can ensure the integrity of the sport is maintained, Lograt added.

According to the report,The dramatic probe began after The Sun received details of calls between a notorious Dubai-based match fixer and a Delhi bookie. We alerted ICC corruption busters led by ex-police chief Sir Ronnie Flanagan. After a frantic round of calls the ICC decided to issue a general warning to Pakistans players,but by then the game had started. The horrified ICC chiefs launched their investigation before the Pakistan innings had even finished. The probe centres on an individual within the team camp who is believed to be the ringleader,taking money from bookies and ensuring their orders are carried out. The ICC is also investigating whether the same cartel rigged a Test between Pakistan and Australia in July after allegedly paying players 700,000.

On Friday,the London police announced that it had passed on its evidence to prosecutors to consider charges against Salman Butt,Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. Wahab Riaz is the fourth player to be questioned by the police,but has denied any involvement with any fresh investigation.

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The England and Wales Cricket Board said it would meet Saturday to discuss the matter but that we see the final two matches in the series going ahead at this stage. Though the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to comment on the new allegations,Pakistans Sports Minister Aijaz Jakhrani said the government would act only if there is clear evidence against a player.

The ICC has the power and it should go ahead and use that, Jakhrani said. This is the time when we have to take some tough decisions. This time we will not spare anybody, he added.

Jakhrani also criticised the team management for its role,saying it was not strict enough. This is the thing management has to do. Access to players should not be easy and mobile phones should not be available to the players when they are playing, he said.