Calcutta/Perth: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is taking allegations made by a British tabloid about attempts to spot-fix during the third Ashes Test in Perth “extremely seriously.” However, it does not think the match has been compromised.

The Sun reported that underground bookmakers from India had offered to sell undercover reporters from the newspaper information about spot-fixing in the Test between Australia and England, which started in Perth on Thursday.

“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,” Alex Marshall, ICC general manager anti-corruption, 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.

“We ask anyone with information about these allegations to get in touch with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit via contactacu@icc-cricket.com”

Cricket Australia (CA) released a statement saying: “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.

“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.”

Spot-fixing occurs when corrupt players agree to manipulate part of a match by, for example, bowling a wide on a particular delivery or ensuring a particular run rate.

The corruption does not usually affect the overall outcome of the match but gamblers in the know can use the information to beat the betting market.

The underground bookmakers told The Sun reporters they had previously manipulated matches in the Indian Premier League and were also targeting Australia’s Big Bash League.

The newspaper said it had passed all the evidence to the ICC.

CA chief executive James Sutherland was briefed by Marshall on the allegations in a conference call early on Thursday, which also included ICC boss Dave Richardson among others.

He said Marshall had told him there was “no evidence, substance or justification” to suggest any players or officials from CA, the ECB or the ICC were under suspicion.

However, he declined to comment on whether any Australia players were named in the dossier of evidence passed to the ICC from The Sun.

“I’m sure the ECB can make their own comments, but we have absolute confidence in our players, our team officials and others involved in the game,” he told reporters outside the Waca.

The ECB said the body worked closely with the ICC and its Anti-Corruption unit to “protect the integrity” of cricket.
“We are aware of these allegations and there is no suggestion that any of the England team is involved in any way,” said a spokesman.

The Sun alleged two bookmakers, including an Indian “Mr Big”, had offered to sell it details of rigged periods of play in the Test in Perth which could be bet on to win huge sums.

One of them claimed to have worked on the scam with former and current internationals including a World Cup- winning all-rounder. They said they liaised with a fixer in Australian cricket known as “The Silent Man”.

No Australia or England players were named as being involved. The tabloid said their undercover reporters were asked for up to £140,000 to “spot fix” markets such as the exact amount of runs scored in an over. 

“Before the match. I will tell you this over, this runs and then you have to put all the bets on that over,” one of the bookmakers was quoted as saying. Asked if it was a good source, he said: “Absolutely correct information.”

The Indian pair — secretly filmed at hotels in Dubai and Delhi during the paper’s four-month investigation — claimed corrupt players would signal the fix was on by making a subtle gesture on the field, such as changing their gloves. 

BOOKIE TALE

After an undercover investigation, The Sun handed over a dossier to the ICC, detailing attempts to fix the ongoing Ashes Test in Perth. Two Indian fixers were secretly filmed at hotels in Dubai and New Delhi in the four-month long investigation. Following are highlights from the report carried in the British tabloid on Thursday:

Two bookies offered to sell The Sun’s undercover reporters details of rigged periods of play, which could be bet on to win millions of pounds. The fixers, identified as Sobers Joban (also called Mr Big) and Priyank Saxena, asked for up to £140,000 to “spot fix”.

The pair said players “signal” the fix is on by making a gesture on the field, such as changing their gloves. Spotters in the crowd then tell bookies who quickly bet millions in the underground Indian market. n  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 internationals including a World Cup-winning all-rounder.

Joban, 31, said how he once played alongside Virat Kohli for Delhi. 

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

The bookies also bragged they can corrupt games in lucrative T20 leagues like BBL and IPL. 

The reporters were told how bowlers can wear long-sleeve tops to signal a fix, or a specific item of clothing, change a field position, swap gloves or remove a helmet and place it back on.