Match fixing hits Ashes as Indian fixer ‘corrupts’ game

Cricket chiefs initiated investigation after a British newspaper claimed to have exposed attempts to rig ongoing third Test of 'The Ashes' series in Perth.

Two bookies, including an Indian ‘Mr Big’, allegedly offered to sell details of rigged periods of play, which could be bet on to win huge sums, The Sun reported.

One of the bookmaker claimed to have worked on the scam with former and current international players, including a World Cup-winning all-rounder, the paper revealed. 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 British paper claimed their undercover reporters were asked for up to £140,000 ($187,000, 158,000 euros) to 'spot fix' markets, such as the exact amount of runs scored in an over.

“Before 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."

On the other hand, International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit general manager Alex Marshall said, “We have now received all materials relating to The Sun's 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.”

“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.”

Cricket Australia said it took a zero-tolerance approach to anyone bringing the game into disrepute.

"The allegations raised by media outlets are of serious concern," it said in a statement, ahead of the third Test starting Thursday in Perth, where England are battling to avoid going 3-0 down in the five-Test series.

Cricket has been dogged by corruption cases in recent years. In February, two Pakistan players - Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif - were caught in a spot-fixing scandal, which rocked their Twenty20 league held in United Arab Emirates. They have been banned for five years.

Recently, a probe was launched by the ICC into pitch tampering claims against a ground official ahead of the second one-day international between India and New Zealand in Pune in October.