Cricket spot fixing: ICC to probe text trail on Oz-Pak Tests

Saturday, 5 November 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sydney (ANI): Australia’s two Tests against Pakistan in England last year will be the subject of a fresh International Cricket Council (ICC) investigation after the uncovering of text messages that indicate agent Mazhar Majeed tried to use Pakistan players to rig a succession of matches.

On the day Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were found guilty at their spot-fixing trial in London of conspiracy to cheat and accept corrupt payments, it emerged that Pakistan’s infamous “no-balls” controversy against England at Lord’s in August last year was not the only Test of their tour played under highly suspicious circumstances.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Messages sent and received by Majeed and uncovered by police, but not allowed as evidence in the trial of Butt and Asif, indicate there were also attempts to fix a bracket of Australia’s first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s in July last year.

Among the most startling evidence was a message received by Majeed on July 12, the day before the Lord’s Test against Australia, from an unknown British phone, thought to be a bookmaker.

In it, fixing the start of Australia’s innings is discussed and how pacemen Asif and Mohammad Amir should bowl to achieve that.

“Bro, just spoke to Sanjay,” the message read. “Bowling first, they should bowl in tandem first for at least first eight overs. Give away a minimum of 47 runs, in first 10 overs please.”

Asif and Amir did bowl in tandem for the first 10 overs but at that point Australia were well under 47 runs at 1-29, with Simon Katich on 10 and Ricky Ponting on nine.

There was further correspondence in the lead-up to the second Test at Leeds between Majeed and a suspected Indian bookmaker codenamed “Raj”.

“Congratulations on the captaincy of Butt,” read the message to Majeed, noting the promotion of the now disgraced batsman to the leadership before the Headingley Test won by Pakistan.

Amir, 19, it was revealed, along with the Butt and Asif verdicts yesterday, had pleaded guilty in court, admitting to bowling deliberate no-balls in the Test against England at Lord’s.

In addition to the Australia-Pakistan Tests at Lord’s and Headingley, the ICC’s anti-corruption unit is also set to peruse evidence unearthed by British police relating to the remainder of Pakistan’s Tests on last year’s tour of England.