Cricket chiefs given new powers to investigate players and administrators suspected of corruption
THE captains of Pakistan and Zimbabwe as well as the skipper of a third unnamed international side have all officially reported approaches from match-fixers.
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WORLD cricket is on red alert for match fixers following explosive claims the Ashes and Big Bash League have been targets for corruption and revelations three international captains have been secretly approached.
International cricket chiefs have been handed brand new powers to demand the phone records of any players, staff or administrators who are suspected to have any involvement or knowledge of corrupt activity, clout they will use if necessary in an investigation now underway into alleged activity in Australia.
Investigators have warned they can even bring back to life phone evidence that has been destroyed using laser technology.
Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland declared there was “no evidence, substance or justification” to allegations in The Sun newspaper that the third Ashes Test as well as the Big Bash League has been the target of dangerous spot-fixers.
International Cricket Council anti-corruption chief Alex Marshall dismissed doubts over the Ashes but has indicated other claims including over the BBL are being treated seriously, and they’ve launched a full investigation into assertions an ex-Australian player and an Australian cricket administrator – who cannot be named – are involved in passing on information that bookmakers could sell on fixers.
Marshall said he will call on all resources in what shapes as a long-running investigation that if proven could result in criminal action in Australia.
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“As with any investigation we will use all options available to us should we deem it necessary and appropriate,” he said.
“The ability to download mobile phones is one part of the investigative toolkit for us.
“We are conducting a live investigation and will do that by focusing on the facts, intelligence and evidence at hand. We will be looking in detail at the allegations, looking for any corroboration of what has been alleged, either from the Sun’s own investigation or our own intelligence, and we will be examining whether there is any evidence which we can now use and take forward. We will do this without further speculation or comment.
“If we deem that offences have taken place in countries where match-fixing is illegal then yes we will work with the local police and report our concerns and share information to push for prosecution.”
Marshall was in Australia last week to meet with Australian Federal Police and Cricket Australia officials, however those meetings had absolutely nothing to do with The Sun report or any live investigations.
Cricket Australia has passionately defended the integrity of its players and administrators in the wake of claims in The Sun, but have welcomed any investigation that might be forthcoming.
“What we heard from Alex Marshall the head of the ICC anti-corruption unit is there’s no evidence, substance or justification based on the dossier of information the ICC has received from the News outlet,” said Sutherland.
“Based on ICC intelligence from previous investigations, there’s no substance to these allegations or justification to suspect that this Test match or indeed the Ashes series as a whole is subject to corrupt activities.
“He (Marshall) also went on to say that there’s no evidence, substance or justification to suggest that any player from either side or match official from the ICC or Cricket Australia or the ECB are any way under suspicion or been contacted by alleged fixers.”
Under new powers, the ICC can demand phones from any persons of interest and if consent isn’t given, suspects can be banned for up to two years for failure to comply.
It’s understood the ICC integrity unit currently has six live investigations, including three into the alarming recent approaches made to three international captains which have all occurred over the past 10 weeks.
The captains of Pakistan and Zimbabwe as well as the skipper of a third unnamed international side have all officially reported approaches from match-fixers, and the plan is for investigations to result in charges.
Authorities have warned perpetrators that they have unprecedented abilities to track down information, with spies brought in to train investigators in the art of recovering destroyed and deleted material.
Two bookmakers reportedly offered to sell details of rigged periods of play in the third Ashes Test in Perth which could be bet on to win millions of dollars.
They asked for up to £140,000 ($245,000) to “spot fix” markets such as the exact amount of runs scored in an over.
The Indian Mr Big said: “Before (the) match. I will tell you this over, this runs and then you have to put all the bets on that over.”
Asked if it was a good source he said: “Absolutely correct information.”
Following a phone hook-up with the ICC’s Marshall, James Sutherland rubbished the claims, saying he was suspicious of the timing of the report released on the morning of the third Test.
Sutherland is not aware of any illegal approaches made in the Big Bash League which also named in the report as a target.
“I’m not aware of any,” he said.
“I think it’s worth noting that our players as well as being educated on the risks of corruption and their obligations under contract and under the ICC code, they’ve got a really strong record of reporting any approaches or suspicious activity or information that they may have.
“Those behaviours in the past are a good indicator of our confidence in our players understanding how the system works and the importance of this matter.”