POSTED: August 30th 2010
NewsUpdate
Internet betting under scrutiny once more after Pakistan cricket scandal claims
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
LONDON, Aug 30: The dangers posed to the credibility of high-level sport by the phenomenon which is the global internet betting industry are back in the spotlight after the scandal surrounding the Pakistan cricket team in England.
British police and Pakistani judicial authorities are following up revelations at the weekend in the News of the World newspaper. This implicated seven members of the Pakistan cricket team in what is known as spot-fixing - betting on particular incidents in a game though not affecting the outcome.
Mazhar Majeed, 35, an agent to a number of Pakistan players, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers - and later bailed without charge. All the players have denied the allegations.
The scandal has convulsed the world of cricket, especially because the sport has been a byword for fairplay and correct conduct on and off the pitch - or, at least, it was until the match-fixing scandal surrouding former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje a decade ago.
Pakistan players have been involved in a number of scandals down the years. Salim Malik was banned for life following the Cronje investigations and controversy surrounded Pakistan's shock defeat by the cricketing minnows of Ireland at the 2007 World Cup.
One of the players implicated in the latest scandal, fast bowler Mohammed Asif, was twice banned after failing dope tests though one suspension was rescinded on appeal.
Malcolm Speed, a former chief executive of the International Cricket Conference, has said Pakistan - who an no longer play home Test series after the terrorist attacks on a visiting Sri Lanka team last year - now risk being banned from all world cricket.
Team manager Yawar Saeed confirmed that captain Salman Butt and opening bowlers Asif and Mohammad Aamer - and subsequently the rest of the squad - had their mobile phones confiscated.
Speed, who was in charge of world cricket's governing body for seven years, said there was provision in the ICC's anti-corruption code to suspend a whole nation and if these allegations were proven and corruption was found to be endemic, then the ICC had little choice.
He added: "I think suspension an option. It's serious. It looks as though it is endemic that several of the team members are involved and have been for some time. So perhaps they need a rest. It looks a fairly compelling case. The News of the World do this sort of thing very well and it's very graphic."
ICC confirmation
Speed's hopes were borne out by ICC ceo Haroon Lorgat who said: "The ICC, ECB and PCB are committed to a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in cricket. All allegations of betting irregularities or fixing of matches or incidents within matches are investigated thoroughly by the ICC’s internationally respected Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) and this case is no different.
“Currently, senior ACSU investigators are in the United Kingdom conducting enquiries into the allegations directed at some Pakistan players during the recently concluded Test against England at Lord’s.
"That investigation has the full support and co-operation of the ECB and PCB. In addition, ACSU officials are assisting London’s Metropolitan Police with their criminal investigation. Led by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the ACSU is the most respected and experienced such unit in world sport.
"The integrity of the game is of paramount importance. Prompt and decisive action will be taken against those who seek to harm it . . . Once the process is complete, if any players are found to be guilty, the ICC will ensure that the appropriate punishment is handed out. We will not tolerate corruption in this great game.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also insised a life ban was the only answer if any player were found guilty of fixing.
He said: "If they are proven guilty - any player - my belief is they should be banned for life. Unless you make a drastic decision on an individual found guilty of this kind of behaviour, I think it will go on forever. You have to make example of any player, a young player or a guy in his 20s or 30s."
Vaughan also questioned whether the scheduled limited-overs leg of the tour can realistically go ahead. England are scheduled to play two Twenty20 games and five one-day internationals against Pakistan.
A number of sport have been targeted by internet betting rings - particularly operating out of the Far East and the Indian sub-continent - seeking to make millions of dollars through manipulating match action.
The European football authorities and Interpol are embroiled in an investigation into attempts to rig lower-level football matches and embedded active incidents.
Keywords · Pakistan · cricket · internet betting
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