M A I N   N E W S

World Cup Indo-Pak semi-final at Mohali was ‘fixed’

London, March 11
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is to investigate allegations that Indian bookies, with the help of a Bollywood actress, have been fixing the results of English County Championship matches and international games, the Sunday Times reported. The report also mentions last year’s World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan being tainted.

The London newspaper, in a front-page article headed ‘English cricket in bung scandal’ said it had evidence that tens of thousands of pounds was being offered to players to throw part or all of international matches, including last year's World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan.

It said batsmen were being offered "typically 44,000 pounds ($69,000) for slow scoring, 50,000 pounds for bowlers who concede runs and as much as 750,000 pounds to players or officials who can guarantee the outcome of a match".

The paper said bookies had used an unidentified Bollywood actress to help with the fixing and stated: "So rife is match-fixing in parts of India that cricket may be in danger of losing its reputation as a civilised sport played by gentlemanly rules. "It is in danger of becoming a byword for racketeering."

The paper quoted one Delhi bookmaker boasting that English county cricket was a "good new market" as it involved "low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle".

An ICC spokesman told the Sunday Times: "We are grateful for the information you have provided and will launch an inquiry into these serious allegations.” — Reuters

London Paper Report

• Indian bookies, with the help of a Bollywood actress, fixed results of county matches
• It had evidence of thousands of pounds being offered to players to throw away matches
• A Delhi bookie boasted that English county cricket was a "good new market"
• So rife is match-fixing in parts of India that cricket may be in danger of losing its reputation