LONDON: Qatar-based media giant Al Jazeera has come out with the second part of ‘Cricket’s Match Fixers’, the documentary that shook the cricketing world in May over claims of widespread corruption in international cricket.
Al Jazeera named an Indian bookmaker Anil Munawar, who allegedly operates for one of India’s most wanted terrorists Dawood Ibrahim, to have initiated 26 spot fixing instances across 15 international matches from 2011-12 which include six Tests, six ODIs and three World T20 2012 matches in Sri Lanka.
Among the matches cited were England against India at Lord’s, South Africa versus Australia in Cape Town, and several games during England’s series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
The investigative documentary further puts the spotlight on players from England, Australia and Pakistan although their identities weren’t revealed, other than to allege that they are some of the world’s top cricketers.
An independent analysis by a UK-based firm of sports betting analysts said the odds of Munawar accurately predicting 25 of the 26 outcomes without fixing them were 9.2 million to one, yet they proved to be correct.
In another damning accusation, Al Jazeera claims that the International Cricket Council (ICC) knew about Munawar and his activities since 2010 but chose to remain silent only until the first part of its documentary released.
Al Jazeera and the the apex governing body of cricket have been at the loggerheads over the availability of the uncensored and unedited version of the documentary.
The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) general manager Alex Marshall stated in a media release:
“The ICC is committed to working to uphold integrity in cricket. As you would expect we will again take the contents of the programme and any allegations it may make seriously and will investigate fully. However, I must refute the assertion that cricket does not take the issue of corruption seriously, we have more resources than ever before working to rid our sport of corruption.
“The investigation into these allegations has already commenced and will run alongside a number of other live unrelated investigations. When considering the claims, we will work with professional independent betting analysts.
“As with the first programme we have, and will continue to ask for the cooperation of the broadcaster. We have made repeated efforts to engage with the broadcaster as it can play such a crucial part in the full and thorough investigation it has called for.
“We do welcome the commitment from the broadcaster to share the files with Interpol and, I hope, other law enforcement agencies who can act upon the information and support us in ridding the sport of these criminals.”
Meanwhile, the Australian and English cricket boards Monday strongly rejected the fresh allegations made by Al Jazeera.
“Cricket Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach against anyone trying to compromise the integrity of the game, and to suggest anything otherwise is unsubstantiated and incorrect,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement released Monday.
“We have full confidence in our players in also protecting the game.”
Prior to the latest broadcast, CA’s Integrity Unit conducted a review of the claims, which it said came from a “known criminal source”, AFP reports.
“From the limited information provided by Al Jazeera, our team have not identified any issues of corruption by any current or former player,” Sutherland further stated.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also asserted the claims lacked credibility.
“Whilst the limited information we have been given by Al Jazeera is poorly prepared and lacks clarity and corroboration, it has been properly assessed,” ECB said in a statement.
“Analysis of this by the ECB integrity team has cast no doubt on the integrity or behaviour of any England player, current or former.”
