The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
A quality article about the situation from the always readable Gideon Haigh
http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/475153.html
http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/475153.html
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S
Sydney Wallabies
Guest
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...als-wrong-number/story-e6frey50-1225912577521
Betting crook dials wrong number
By Ben Dorries
From: The Daily Telegraph
September 01, 2010 12:00AM
CRICKET Australia was left in the dark after it gave vital information to the ICC on an Indian betting crook who targeted three Australian players in a hotel bar more than a year ago.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson had passed on the mobile phone number of a man who approached the trio during the Ashes in London last year.
At the man's insistence, one of the players' partners scribbled down his number in Bertie's Bar in the team's exclusive Royal Garden hotel in London. The number was then passed on to Australian team manager Steve Bernard who included it in his official report to the ICC's anti-corruption unit.
Bernard last night confirmed he had provided the phone number to the corruption unit but was unaware if the ICC had nabbed anyone over the illegal approach.
"I can confirm the players were approached and I can confirm that the mobile number was passed on. I am unaware if anything has happened in relation to it since," Bernard said.
The anti-corruption unit does not comment on ongoing cases but the shady figure is thought to still be at large - more than a year after the incident which occurred before the second Ashes Test at Lord's in July 2009.
It is another indictment on cricket's impotent corruption police who have never had a big-name scalp.
Lee last night did not want to comment, however Johnson's manager Sam Halvorsen said the fast bowler had acted quickly and properly to report the incident.
"The players were approached during the Ashes, Mitchell did the right thing and reported it to the team manager and as far as I'm aware there has been no further action," he said.
The illegal bookie also tried to get the phone numbers of the Australian players - but they refused to pass on any personal details and none of them are suspected of any wrongdoing.
Lee has been to India more than 35 times and his high profile on the subcontinent made him an obvious target for bookies looking for inside information on the Australian team.
The approaches from dodgy characters, which also included one to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin during the Twenty20 World Cup that preceded the Ashes, indicate the brazen nature of the growing corruption in cricket.
Watson yesterday revealed how the bookmaker had met him at the team's hotel and heaped praise on him before inviting him out for drinks.
"I didn't think too much more of it until I found out a bit more information and that he was actually one of the illegal bookmakers," Watson said.
"It was just a little bit different to what normal fans are."
Evidence of cricket corruption emerged this week when Pakistan captain Salman Butt, vice-captain Kamran Akmal and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were allegedly at the centre of a deliberate ploy of bowling no-balls to make money.
Asif, one of seven Pakistani players implicated in the spot-fixing scandal, also allegedly took bribes from bookmakers before flying to Australia last summer for a controversial tour where Pakistan did not win a game.
That entire tour, along with more than 80 international matches, is now under scrutiny from the anti-corruption unit.
Pakistan's cricket board said last night it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are investigated, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England. The teams are due to play their first Twenty20 international in Cardiff on Sunday.
Betting crook dials wrong number
By Ben Dorries
From: The Daily Telegraph
September 01, 2010 12:00AM
CRICKET Australia was left in the dark after it gave vital information to the ICC on an Indian betting crook who targeted three Australian players in a hotel bar more than a year ago.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson had passed on the mobile phone number of a man who approached the trio during the Ashes in London last year.
At the man's insistence, one of the players' partners scribbled down his number in Bertie's Bar in the team's exclusive Royal Garden hotel in London. The number was then passed on to Australian team manager Steve Bernard who included it in his official report to the ICC's anti-corruption unit.
Bernard last night confirmed he had provided the phone number to the corruption unit but was unaware if the ICC had nabbed anyone over the illegal approach.
"I can confirm the players were approached and I can confirm that the mobile number was passed on. I am unaware if anything has happened in relation to it since," Bernard said.
The anti-corruption unit does not comment on ongoing cases but the shady figure is thought to still be at large - more than a year after the incident which occurred before the second Ashes Test at Lord's in July 2009.
It is another indictment on cricket's impotent corruption police who have never had a big-name scalp.
Lee last night did not want to comment, however Johnson's manager Sam Halvorsen said the fast bowler had acted quickly and properly to report the incident.
"The players were approached during the Ashes, Mitchell did the right thing and reported it to the team manager and as far as I'm aware there has been no further action," he said.
The illegal bookie also tried to get the phone numbers of the Australian players - but they refused to pass on any personal details and none of them are suspected of any wrongdoing.
Lee has been to India more than 35 times and his high profile on the subcontinent made him an obvious target for bookies looking for inside information on the Australian team.
The approaches from dodgy characters, which also included one to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin during the Twenty20 World Cup that preceded the Ashes, indicate the brazen nature of the growing corruption in cricket.
Watson yesterday revealed how the bookmaker had met him at the team's hotel and heaped praise on him before inviting him out for drinks.
"I didn't think too much more of it until I found out a bit more information and that he was actually one of the illegal bookmakers," Watson said.
"It was just a little bit different to what normal fans are."
Evidence of cricket corruption emerged this week when Pakistan captain Salman Butt, vice-captain Kamran Akmal and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were allegedly at the centre of a deliberate ploy of bowling no-balls to make money.
Asif, one of seven Pakistani players implicated in the spot-fixing scandal, also allegedly took bribes from bookmakers before flying to Australia last summer for a controversial tour where Pakistan did not win a game.
That entire tour, along with more than 80 international matches, is now under scrutiny from the anti-corruption unit.
Pakistan's cricket board said last night it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are investigated, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England. The teams are due to play their first Twenty20 international in Cardiff on Sunday.
S
Sydney Wallabies
Guest
Pakistan cricketers face treason charges over fix claims
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-over-fix-claims/story-e6frey50-1225912482905
AAP August 31, 2010 6:14PM
A PAKISTAN court has summoned seven national cricket players, the country's sports minister and its cricket chief to face treason charges over fixing allegations in England.
The chief justice of the High Court in the eastern city of Lahore said those under investigation in England, plus sports minister Ijaz Jakharani and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt must appear on September 7.
Local lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed filed the treason case on Monday, calling for life bans and confiscation of all the players' assets if they are found guilty. The charge carries a maximum death penalty.
The cricketers are alleged to have been paid to bowl no-balls at pre-determined times in a spot-fixing scam in the fourth Test against England, which Pakistan lost by an innings on Sunday.
Usually in Pakistan, court procedures are long and decisions takes years while a legal expert said if the accused fail to appear three times in a row a ruling could be made in absentia.
"The case is based only on allegations. We do not expect a hurried decision," Azhar Siddique, a local lawyer said.
The seven national team players include Test team captain Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, plus three unnamed players, who are all accused in the sting by British Sunday tabloid the News of the World.
Police have bailed a bookmaker, Mazhar Majeed, who is alleged to be the middleman in the scam.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-over-fix-claims/story-e6frey50-1225912482905
AAP August 31, 2010 6:14PM
A PAKISTAN court has summoned seven national cricket players, the country's sports minister and its cricket chief to face treason charges over fixing allegations in England.
The chief justice of the High Court in the eastern city of Lahore said those under investigation in England, plus sports minister Ijaz Jakharani and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt must appear on September 7.
Local lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed filed the treason case on Monday, calling for life bans and confiscation of all the players' assets if they are found guilty. The charge carries a maximum death penalty.
The cricketers are alleged to have been paid to bowl no-balls at pre-determined times in a spot-fixing scam in the fourth Test against England, which Pakistan lost by an innings on Sunday.
Usually in Pakistan, court procedures are long and decisions takes years while a legal expert said if the accused fail to appear three times in a row a ruling could be made in absentia.
"The case is based only on allegations. We do not expect a hurried decision," Azhar Siddique, a local lawyer said.
The seven national team players include Test team captain Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, plus three unnamed players, who are all accused in the sting by British Sunday tabloid the News of the World.
Police have bailed a bookmaker, Mazhar Majeed, who is alleged to be the middleman in the scam.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Treason charges are a bit much, aren't they?
S
Sydney Wallabies
Guest
I agree TBH, but the mentality of Pakistanis is a lot different to ours.
They still keep harping on about a British conspiracy and racism as well.
They see what happened as an act of treason.
S
Sydney Wallabies
Guest
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=168005
Scotland Yard finds no solid evidence of match fixing
LONDON: The Lords Cricket Test match fixing scandal has entered its final and dramatic phase, with the Scotland Yard’s investigation team failing to find any concrete evidence of match fixing.
Responsible and reliable sources of Scotland Yard had informed on Tuesday that despite ‘the video and other proofs’ as provided by the British tabloid, no credibility has been so far established regarding the scandal so far.
Hence there have been no proofs that the main scandalous and shadowy character of match fixer, Mazhar Majeed ever had any contacts with fast bowlers Muhammad Asif or Muhammad Aamir.
Besides the video provided to Scotland Yard also fails to display the usual time and date formats as depicted in any such videos. Sources have informed that Scotland Yard feels that all no balls by Pakistani team during the Lords Test Match were delivered quite well before they were inducted in the video tape by the notorious Match fixer. However the video was closely scrutinized by Scotland Yard foe further evidences.
Sources have also expressed that Scotland Yard was also toying with the notion of a possible trap laid and executed by the notorious British tabloid, of indulging in false reporting in a bid to soil the name of Pakistani team.
It is also doubtful that the alleged notes as displayed (having dubious denominations) were really UK pounds 10,000 at all!
Replying to a question, sources informed that first information, lists and other proofs provided to Scotland Yard, claiming that Pakistani players did possess 1,50,000 UKL at all: a prize Scotland Yard and British police desperately sought during their joint raid. Other objects recovered from the rooms of the players also failed to yield any results or credible proofs.
Investigators were also trying to solve the mystery, as to why the notorious British tabloid had published the report two days later, as the no-balls of Pakistani players were conducted on the (very same) second day of the test match.
Scotland Yard finds no solid evidence of match fixing
LONDON: The Lords Cricket Test match fixing scandal has entered its final and dramatic phase, with the Scotland Yard’s investigation team failing to find any concrete evidence of match fixing.
Responsible and reliable sources of Scotland Yard had informed on Tuesday that despite ‘the video and other proofs’ as provided by the British tabloid, no credibility has been so far established regarding the scandal so far.
Hence there have been no proofs that the main scandalous and shadowy character of match fixer, Mazhar Majeed ever had any contacts with fast bowlers Muhammad Asif or Muhammad Aamir.
Besides the video provided to Scotland Yard also fails to display the usual time and date formats as depicted in any such videos. Sources have informed that Scotland Yard feels that all no balls by Pakistani team during the Lords Test Match were delivered quite well before they were inducted in the video tape by the notorious Match fixer. However the video was closely scrutinized by Scotland Yard foe further evidences.
Sources have also expressed that Scotland Yard was also toying with the notion of a possible trap laid and executed by the notorious British tabloid, of indulging in false reporting in a bid to soil the name of Pakistani team.
It is also doubtful that the alleged notes as displayed (having dubious denominations) were really UK pounds 10,000 at all!
Replying to a question, sources informed that first information, lists and other proofs provided to Scotland Yard, claiming that Pakistani players did possess 1,50,000 UKL at all: a prize Scotland Yard and British police desperately sought during their joint raid. Other objects recovered from the rooms of the players also failed to yield any results or credible proofs.
Investigators were also trying to solve the mystery, as to why the notorious British tabloid had published the report two days later, as the no-balls of Pakistani players were conducted on the (very same) second day of the test match.
S
Sydney Wallabies
Guest
http://www.cricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/content/current/story/475246.html
'Insufficient evidence' against Majeed, fears UK anti-corruption chief
Andrew Miller
August 31, 2010
The chairman of a UK commission set up to investigate the threat of gambling-related corruption in sport has told Cricinfo he believes there will be insufficient evidence for police to press charges against Mazhar Majeed, the alleged fixer who was caught on camera accepting money from an undercover reporter in a News of the World sting.
Rick Parry, the former chief executive of Liverpool Football Club, told Cricinfo's Switch Hit podcast that, despite a dossier of apparently damning evidence - including video footage of Majeed appearing to correctly predict the timing of three no-balls bowled by Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir during the first two days of the Lord's Test - the case was likely to flounder unless evidence of illegal betting activity was found to back up the claims.
"I don't think [the case] has any evidence at all," said Parry. "Unless the News of the World placed a bet - which would be highly unlikely because in so doing they would have carried out a criminal act - then there doesn't appear to be any betting activity at all associated with these particular allegations. It places the ball, to pardon the pun, squarely back into the hands of the cricket authorities."
Under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, which made cheating in sport for financial gain a criminal activity in the UK, it had been hoped that the very fact that these latest allegations had taken place in the country would help to carry them forward into the courts, and lead to a high-profile case that could act as a deterrent to others who might be tempted into similar wrongdoing.
However, Parry said that until such time that further evidence was unearthed, the greater onus would have to fall on cricket's governing bodies to live up to their promise, reiterated by the ICC's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, on Monday, to take "prompt and decisive action" against anyone found guilty of match-fixing.
"The ICC is very much in the spotlight on this one, and so it can't afford not to [act]," he said. "When you see the publicity like we've had over the last couple of days, there can't be a single reason not to take the right action, because it's the reputation of the sport at stake, and nothing can be more important than that. Everyone connected with sport - participants and spectators - have a basic right to believe that sport is clean and that everyone is doing their best, because that goes right to the root of what's good about sport."
Parry did, however, credit the ICC for taking a lead among sporting governing bodies in attempting to police corruption its own issues, but added that more effort clearly needed to be put into the education of its young players, particularly in light of Amir's alleged involvement in the Lord's furore.
"I think one of the great sadnesses of all of this, and it's a widely held view, is that a great young talent like Amir has been implicated in this one," said Parry. "I think that's what perhaps separates this from many other cases, because it suggests that the bad guys got to him before the good guys did. One of the fundamental recommendations of our panel, along with disciplinary measures and sanctions, is that it's absolutely fundamental to have education processes in place, so that players and participants are taught from a very, very young age, first of all what the rules mean, so that there can be no excuses, and secondly that they are vulnerable to outside influences."
"To be fair to cricket, at ICC level they have taken very significant steps," he added. "They were one of the first sports to set up a proper integrity unit, in the wake of previous major issues such as Hansie Cronje scandal, so I don't think it can be said that the cricket authorities have done nothing. But in terms of educating the players, it could be that they've not done enough. It would have to be a shock that a talent that has broken onto the scene so very, very quickly is at the centre of all this.
"He'd have been enrolled in a cricket academy from a young age, and from the moment he shot to prominence with the international squad, you'd think that the Pakistan Cricket Board might have recognised a vulnerability and a need to put an arm around him. I can't imagine it would have been that difficult to do, because when you read of the sums involved in betting in the Far East - with up to $500 million on a single game - the temptation is potentially there for relatively lowly paid cricketers. It's beholden upon the authorities to step in and provide appropriate support systems."
'Insufficient evidence' against Majeed, fears UK anti-corruption chief
Andrew Miller
August 31, 2010
The chairman of a UK commission set up to investigate the threat of gambling-related corruption in sport has told Cricinfo he believes there will be insufficient evidence for police to press charges against Mazhar Majeed, the alleged fixer who was caught on camera accepting money from an undercover reporter in a News of the World sting.
Rick Parry, the former chief executive of Liverpool Football Club, told Cricinfo's Switch Hit podcast that, despite a dossier of apparently damning evidence - including video footage of Majeed appearing to correctly predict the timing of three no-balls bowled by Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir during the first two days of the Lord's Test - the case was likely to flounder unless evidence of illegal betting activity was found to back up the claims.
"I don't think [the case] has any evidence at all," said Parry. "Unless the News of the World placed a bet - which would be highly unlikely because in so doing they would have carried out a criminal act - then there doesn't appear to be any betting activity at all associated with these particular allegations. It places the ball, to pardon the pun, squarely back into the hands of the cricket authorities."
Under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, which made cheating in sport for financial gain a criminal activity in the UK, it had been hoped that the very fact that these latest allegations had taken place in the country would help to carry them forward into the courts, and lead to a high-profile case that could act as a deterrent to others who might be tempted into similar wrongdoing.
However, Parry said that until such time that further evidence was unearthed, the greater onus would have to fall on cricket's governing bodies to live up to their promise, reiterated by the ICC's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, on Monday, to take "prompt and decisive action" against anyone found guilty of match-fixing.
"The ICC is very much in the spotlight on this one, and so it can't afford not to [act]," he said. "When you see the publicity like we've had over the last couple of days, there can't be a single reason not to take the right action, because it's the reputation of the sport at stake, and nothing can be more important than that. Everyone connected with sport - participants and spectators - have a basic right to believe that sport is clean and that everyone is doing their best, because that goes right to the root of what's good about sport."
Parry did, however, credit the ICC for taking a lead among sporting governing bodies in attempting to police corruption its own issues, but added that more effort clearly needed to be put into the education of its young players, particularly in light of Amir's alleged involvement in the Lord's furore.
"I think one of the great sadnesses of all of this, and it's a widely held view, is that a great young talent like Amir has been implicated in this one," said Parry. "I think that's what perhaps separates this from many other cases, because it suggests that the bad guys got to him before the good guys did. One of the fundamental recommendations of our panel, along with disciplinary measures and sanctions, is that it's absolutely fundamental to have education processes in place, so that players and participants are taught from a very, very young age, first of all what the rules mean, so that there can be no excuses, and secondly that they are vulnerable to outside influences."
"To be fair to cricket, at ICC level they have taken very significant steps," he added. "They were one of the first sports to set up a proper integrity unit, in the wake of previous major issues such as Hansie Cronje scandal, so I don't think it can be said that the cricket authorities have done nothing. But in terms of educating the players, it could be that they've not done enough. It would have to be a shock that a talent that has broken onto the scene so very, very quickly is at the centre of all this.
"He'd have been enrolled in a cricket academy from a young age, and from the moment he shot to prominence with the international squad, you'd think that the Pakistan Cricket Board might have recognised a vulnerability and a need to put an arm around him. I can't imagine it would have been that difficult to do, because when you read of the sums involved in betting in the Far East - with up to $500 million on a single game - the temptation is potentially there for relatively lowly paid cricketers. It's beholden upon the authorities to step in and provide appropriate support systems."
S
spooony
Guest
What is a good cheater in cricket. Claims of the Pakistan team cheat yet their record is not the best. Yet Cronje was paid to loose and had the best ODI winning percentage. WTF
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