Wednesday 1st September, 2010 ICC still struggling to deal with match-fixing who refused to be identified as he wasn't authorized to speak on the record, told The Associated Press. "There would be a pleasant utopian Pakistan view that after the ACSU was set up, then everything that had gone wrong cricketers previously was no longer an issue," he said. "Clearly that is not the case. The ‘unlikely’ to fact of the matter is that the betting industry is a massive one and the stakes have got higher and higher as the years finish tour have gone on, so things are just as seri- The Pakistan cricketers under ous as before, if not more so." scrutiny for claims of spot-fixing are In the latest scandal, a British unlikely to play again on the current tabloid alleged that two of Pakistan's tour of England, BBC Sport under- players deliberately bowled no-balls stands. against England last week in exchange , , for money. In similar cases, individuals Mohammad Asif and in illegal betting hubs would then have have all been questioned by police, that information passed on to them so although Akmal is no longer part of they can bet on a sure thing. The tabloid said it that investigation. secretly filmed its undercover reporters, The Pakistan Board will posing as front men for a Far East gam- continue its own enquiry on bling cartel, in discussion with a man it Wednesday. identifies as London-based businessman And the International Cricket Mazhar Majeed, who appears to accept Council (ICC) is also preparing a 150,000 pounds ($232,000) in order to report, with the results expected make sure no-balls are bowled at certain within days. times. Majeed is repoted to be an agent The ICC has already said the tour The Pakistan cricket team’s head coach Waquer Younis, bottom left, briefly speaks to the media as he walks outside the hotel where the of some of the players. will continue but it is understood Pakistan cricket team is staying in Taunton, England, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010. Scotland Yard is investigating after a British newspaper The brazenness of the scheme has that Pakistan officials will agree that reported that pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls during last week’s opening day of shocked many cricket pundits, but most the three players who remain under acknowledged they were not surprised the fourth Test against England. (AP) investigation by the police should given the history of match-fixing in the not play in the forthcoming games, sport. although they will not be suspended DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - radar for several months. of ACSU officials?" Australia's Mark Waugh and Shane while the investigation is ongoing. Only a few years after the ICC vowed to Pakistan parliamentarian Iqal Ali said the latest scandal only high- Warne were fined in 1995 for taking crack down on corruption in the wake of Mohammed Ali is wondering where that lights the failures of the ICC and vari- money from an Indian bookmaker in the Hansie Cronje scandal, the sport's unit was during the spot-fixing, which is ous governments in South Asia to take exchange for information on pitch and matches. South Africa slapped a life governing body is under fire amid alle- the betting on individual events in a the problem of match-fixing seriously. weather conditions during a tour to Sri ban on Cronje, who died in 2002 in a gations Pakistan players were involved match and can involve huge sums of But an opposing view argues that it's Lanka. Players from South Africa, India plane crash, and the scandal caused in "spot-fixing" in a test against money. unfair to lay the blame entirely with and Pakistan were banned from interna- the ICC to set up its anti-corruption England. "What were the security officials of authorities, since illegal gambling is tional cricket in the game's more recent unit. A tabloid newspaper sting uncovered ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit widespread across South Asia and is match-fixing scandals. British police are investigating the an illicit scheme that the International doing in England?" Ali asked. "If we run by criminal syndicates who routine- The biggest of those scandals tabloid allegations. Any player found Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and believe that the Majeed brothers were in ly use violence or buy off politicians. involved Cronje, the former South guilty of colluding with bookmakers to Security Unit failed to detect - despite touch with Pakistan players, how was it "This says the corruptors have never Africa captain who admitted in 2000 to manipulate the result could be banned the fact the players were on the ICC possible that it didn't come to the notice gone away," a source close to the ICC, receiving $100,000 to manipulate for life.

Shane Watson and Brad Haddin Mendis bids goodbye to SLC Pakistan sends ‘approached’ by bookmaker team to investigate

Australian duo Shane Watson and manager] Steve Bernard,” said cricket scam claims Brad Haddin have alleged that they Watson. Investigators from Pakistan are were approached by an Indian book- The claims come as British police flying to London to examine allega- maker last year while playing in investigate four Pakistan players over tions that some of its cricketers were England. allegations of spot-fixing. involved in a betting scam. Watson says he was invited for a Sunday tabloid newspaper the The Federal Investigation Agency drink while on the Ashes tour while News of the World alleges that two of team will study claims that two play- Haddin was targeted during the World Pakistan’s players deliberately bowled ers deliberately bowled no-balls dur- Twenty20. three no-balls as part of a betting scam ing the final test against England at “It happened a couple of times in in last week’s Test match against Lord’s. London and I just went and told [team England at Lord’s. (BBC) Former International Cricket Council chief Malcolm Speed says there was a “fairly compelling case” for Pakistan’s suspension from world cricket. Man held over Pakistan cricket Police have questioned four play- Former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis stepped down yesterday as the CEO of Sri ers. ‘betting scam’ bailed Lanka Cricket after being in the helm of local cricket for six years. Prior to that, Mendis The three members of the team had been the Director, Cricket Development and before that had held several hon- from the FIA - Pakistan’s highest law The agent at the centre of the tioned, and three of these reportedly ourary positions in local cricket. The manner in which SLC Interim Committee treated enforcement agency - will join Pakistan cricket betting scam allega- had their mobile phones taken away the charismatic former captain has been heavily criticized and a member of the Interim Scotland Yard officers in investigat- tions, Mazhar Majeed, has been by detectives. Committee is implicated in eyeing the position of Mendis. Since assuming office last ing claims by The News of the World released without charge on police International Cricket Council that it paid cricket agent Mazhar year, SLC Interim Committee whilst removing former cricketers from their positions Majeed £150,000 to provide advance bail. president Sharad Pawar has ruled out has appointed their family members and friends to highly paid positions in cricket He was arrested on suspicion of calls for action to be taken against the details of when three no-balls would administration. Here Mendis is seen greeted by a security officer at SLC head- be bowled. (BBC) conspiracy to defraud bookmakers. players until after the police investi- quarters before he left the board premises. Pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja. Four players have also been ques- gation. (BBC) England ‘want implicated Pakistan players banned’ Disciplinary Committee slaps one year ban on Kandy SC’s Walpola The England team believes the Pakistan players implicated in the betting BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE at the inquiry and when exposed had accepted tak- must be stopped because they can set a dangerous scandal that has engulfed the tourists ing the performance enhancing substance, Ganja. precedent,” said Gunasekere. should sit out the rest of the tour. Former Sri Lanka hooker and Kandy SC forward “The tests showed his urine levels to be six times Meanwhile Kandy Sports Club has taken a deci- England are set to play Pakistan in two Anuranga Walpola has been banned for one year by higher than that of a normal person’s. Only the first sion to suspend Walpola from the club. “The club Twenty20 matches and five one-dayers. the Disciplinary Committee of the Sports Medicine sample was tested and we didn’t have to test the sec- will be out of bounds for Walpola,” said Kandy SC Professional Cricketers Association Unit after a dope test found him guilty of taking a ond sample because he admitted to taking the sub- Rugby Chairman Lasantha Wijesuriya. According to boss Angus Porter told the BBC the performance enhancing drug during the 2010 domes- stance,” said Gunasekere. Wijesuriya, the SLRFU had informed that the urine England team thought it “preferable” that those involved did not play. tic rugby season. According to Gunasekere, Walpola had confessed test on the player had proven positive for dope, but Pakistan officials are understood to Dr. Maiya Gunasekere Chairman Disciplinary he had eaten some cake at a party in Colombo added that the club was yet to be informed of the agree that the three players under investi- Committee of the Sports Medicine Unit told The before going to Kandy for the team’s Clifford Cup ban imposed on the player by the Disciplinary gation should miss the series. Island that Walpola’s ban from rugby will com- rugby match. The player had said he had felt dizzy Committee of the Sports Medicine Unit. “Speaking on behalf of the England mence on October 1 and will prohibit him from play- after eating the cake at an apartment in Bagathale Wijesuriya said that Kandy SC fully supported team we can say we think it would be ing rugby for 12 months. The Disciplinary Road Colombo. Gunasekere said he had done his the decision taken by the authorities to test players preferable if those individuals who are Committee of the Sports Medicine Unit held the investigations and had found no apartment to match for dope. He added that Walpola’s absence from the named do not play in the forthcoming inquiry on Monday where the player was also pres- Walpola’s description, of where the party was held. Kandy SC line up will not affect the club much series,” said Porter. ent. The Sports Medicine Unit which tested the Gunasekere said that the player had deliberately because it was in possession of adequate replace- Captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, urine sample of the player is headed by taken the performance enhancing drug and added,” ments. “We are very disappointed that a player from Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal have Dr.Geethanjana Mendis. We can’t tolerate this. Players must make sacrifices the club tested positive during the drug test,” he all been questioned by police, although Gunasekere said that the player was found lying train hard and get fit the natural way. These things said. Akmal is no longer part of that investiga- tion. (BBC)

Published by Upali Newspapers (Private) Limited, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13 and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Wednesday 1st September, 2010