Investigation allegedly uncovers spot fixing plot in third Ashes test

AUSTRALIA and England have reacted to reports an illegal spot fixing scandal was planned for the third Ashes Test in Perth.

The scandal erupted on the day of the third Test.

CRICKET chiefs launched a probe today after a bombshell dossier was handed over on attempts to fix the Third Ashes Test in Perth.

Two bookmakers reportedly offered to sell details of rigged periods of play which could be bet on to win millions of dollars, The Sun reports.

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.”

The pair said corrupt players “signal” the fix is on by making a subtle gesture on the field, such as changing their gloves.

Spotters in the crowd then tell bookies who quickly bet millions into the underground Indian market.

Cricket Australia released a statement on Thursday morning saying the allegations are of “serious concern”.

“The allegations raised by media outlets are of serious concern. Cricket Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach against anybody trying to bring the game into disrepute,” the statement read.

‘The allegations raised are of serious concern.’

“Cricket Australia will co-operate fully with any ICC Anti-Corruption Unit investigation.

“Australian cricket has a long-standing, proactive approach to sports integrity management and Cricket Australia has a dedicated Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) to prevent corruption within Australian domestic competitions, including the BBL.

“In addition to this, all players participating in CA sanctioned competitions, including the BBL, are required to complete an anti-corruption education session before they can compete.

“CA works closely with the ICC ACU on all international fixtures played in Australia.

“Players are able to report any suspicions they have on a confidential basis and in the past there has been a strong Australian player culture to do so.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also released a statement saying: “ECB work closely with the ICC and their Anti-Corruption unit to protect the integrity of the international game . We are aware of these allegations and there is no suggestion that any of the England team is involved in any way.”

ICC General Manager of Anti-Corruption Alex Marshall said the sport’s governing body had received information from The Sun’s investigation but at this stage had insufficient evidence to suggest Perth Test had been corrupted.

“We have now received all materials relating to The Sun investigation. We take the allegations extremely seriously and they will be investigated by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit working with anti-corruption colleagues from Member countries,” Marshall said in a statement.

“From my initial assessment of the material, there is no evidence, either from The Sun or via our own intelligence, to suggest the current Test match has been corrupted. At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication that any players in this Test have been in contact with the alleged fixers.

“The allegations are wide ranging and relate to various forms cricket in several countries, including T20 tournaments. We will look closely at all the information as part of our investigation.”

Australia and England have responded to the concerning reports.

The bookmakers reeled off players they say work as their “puppets”.

They also claimed to be working with a fixer in Australian cricket known as The Silent Man.

He is said to work with former and current international stars.

No current England stars were named as involved.

The International Cricket Council said the revelations were of “grave concern”, adding: “We take all allegations of corruption seriously and welcome The Sun’s offer to share this information.”

Cricket corruption expert Ed Hawkins added: “This is potentially disastrous for the game. The Ashes is one of the pillars of cricket.”

Mr Big, ex-state cricketer Sobers Joban, and partner Priyank Saxena, a tobacco businessman and bookmaker, were secretly filmed at hotels in Dubai and Delhi in The Sun’s four-month investigation.

Joban said he could get players to follow “scripts” — such as how many runs would be scored in a session, or an innings, when a wicket will fall and what a team would do if it won the toss.

Bombshell claims have rocked the cricket world.

He said: “I will give you work in Ashes Test. Session runs. Maybe day one, two, three. We have two session work, one session costs 60 lakh rupees (A$121,208), two sessions 120 lakh rupees (A$242,000).

“If you are interested Priyank will talk to the Silent Man. If you want to go with him all right, but you will not sit in meeting. I don’t know what he give, script or session.

“Right now if I tell you he want one crore (A$203,000), he might want five crores (A$1,000,000).”

Asked if the offer was confirmed, Saxena, replied: “One thousand per cent”.

Later in two recorded calls, Saxena said he had spoken to The Silent Man and a fix attempt was due in the middle of the Ashes.

He said: “I have sent the email (to Australia) and am waiting for a reply. When I am sure everything is confirmed then I will pass it on.

“I have to go to Australia with someone. I’ll meet the Man, he will tell me the script and the rate.”

Last week in another call, Joban confirmed the fix attempt was on.

He said: “You have to give advance money in India. ***** will tell you each and everything, how to put on bet. I will give you exact figure, like 10 overs, 35 runs.”

In a call this week Joban said details would be passed on after the toss “maybe on day one or two”.

He added: “The Australian bookmakers will buy this match so it will be perfect, perfect news.”

Experts believe the Perth Test is a target for Indian fixers as the time difference to Delhi is two and a half hours — making high speed telephone betting trades easier.

The bookies also bragged they can corrupt games in lucrative Twenty20 leagues such as Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL).

They urged The Sun’s investigators, who posed as financiers for underworld London bookies, to pour millions into a new Zimbabwean league where matches would be fixed.

Joban said his gang often doesn’t arrange fixes on the first and last matches of series to avoid suspicion.

He boasted he had carried out 17 to 18 fixes with two IPL teams.

He said the tournament, and India’s illegal betting market had opened up the possibility of corrupting stars.

He said: “The players have their own bookies and agents, this IPL teach the world about fixing and money.”

Over 10 years he claimed to have made “a lot of contacts” with South African, Australian and Pakistani players, who wanted “money guaranteed” and “security”.

Joban alleged one Test player had been paid approximately $307,000 to bowl a wide to manipulate the run rate in a Twenty20 game.

Another batsman was said to have earned bookies a fortune by losing his wicket on the sixth ball of an over.

Speaking of the players’ gestures Joban said: “They are well signalled in advance. In every IPL match the signals are purposely not shown on the live broadcasts.

“I give you a red watch, you wear a red watch.

“In the IPL five T-shirts will be the full size, five will be half sleeves. A player bowls the over in full T-shirt, that is the signal.

“A wide, running in and stopping without bowling, so many signals.”

Once a signal is called in by a spotter, Joban said bookies have two to three minutes to get bets on.

He said: “Phone line is connected and you just call the bets. You sit in twos and threes and fours.”

Crooked players are reportedly paid by hawala, a system which operates outside of regular banking.

The Sun reporters were told hawala agents in South Africa received funds on behalf of players there.

Mafia syndicate D Company is one of the biggest controllers of such transfers and has been linked to corruption in cricket.

Cricket expert Mr Hawkins said of The Sun’s investigation: “It’s absolutely bombshell stuff that we are talking about The Ashes in this context. People didn’t think series as big as that would be affected by bookies.”

An ICC spokesman said: “These are serious allegations and of grave concern. Our anti-corruption unit will continue working to uphold integrity in cricket focusing on education, prevention and disruption of any attempts to corrupt, including in relation to the third Test in Australia.”

This story originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Investigation allegedly uncovers spot fixing plot in third Ashes test