Australia-Sri Lanka Test being investigated by ICC amid allegations of corruption
CRICKET Australia is taking seriously allegations that a Test match against Sri Lanka in 2016 may have been corrupted by match fixers.
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CRICKET Australia is taking seriously allegations that a Test match against Sri Lanka in 2016 may have been corrupted by match fixers.
A new documentary will air claims that criminals paid off a groundsman in Galle to prepare a dodgy pitch for a Test Australia lost to Sri Lanka two years ago.
The International Cricket Council is set to investigate the allegations to be broadcast in a documentary on Al Jazeera that the corrupters wanted pitch conditions that would ensure the match didn’t end in a draw.
CA officials are yet to see the documentary and will wait until that time before making official comment, however there are no concerns about the conduct of any Australian or Sri Lankan player – with the focus on the actions of one of the ground’s key curators.
Australian players at the time were vocal about the disastrous quality of a wicket that Sri Lanka made the most of to win inside two-and-a-half days.
New Australian coach Justin Langer said CA was eager for a full investigation to be undertaken.
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“All we know is that people don’t like anyone bending the rules. It is as simple as that. I don’t know any of the facts. I know Cricket Australia are taking it seriously, the ICC are taking it seriously,” said Langer, who wasn’t involved in the Australian set-up at the time.
“Whatever the facts are we deal with them. It is pretty much as simple as that.”
The documentary is expected to broadcast secret recordings – using hidden cameras – of criminals boasting they had bet large amounts of money on the match not ending in a draw, with the syndicate also claiming they had dictated the pitch conditions for a Sri Lanka Test against India last year.
It’s claimed $37,000 dollars was paid to doctor the pitch and provide information on conditions.
Other reports claim that the undercover Al Jazeera bust has also exposed a plot to fix an England Test against Sri Lanka due to take place in November this year.
The agents of Australian players were this week alerted that the documentary would go to air.
There’s no suggestion any Australian players were aware of the plans.
The ICC is investigating the claims.
“As you would expect, we will take the contents of the program and any allegations it may make very seriously,” said the ICC’s head of integrity, Alex Marshall.
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Originally published as Australia-Sri Lanka Test being investigated by ICC amid allegations of corruption
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