Umpires hit back after corruption claims
Source: AFP |
October 10, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
UMPIRES at the center of bribery claims denied they were willing to fix matches for cash as cricket authorities announced an urgent probe into the allegations aired in a television sting.
An undercover sting by India TV channel allegedly found that six umpires, including one who is a regular fixture on the international circuit, were willing to give decisions or provide inside information on teams and playing conditions in return for illicit payments.
The accusations were broadcast only a day after the West Indies' victory over hosts Sri Lanka in the final of the World Twenty20 tournament, quickly souring the atmosphere after one of the game's premier events. None of the umpires were involved in the tournament.
The International Cricket Council called on India TV "to turn over any information which can assist the ICC's urgent investigations into this matter".
Three of those named were from Sri Lanka and two were from Pakistan. The sixth was Nadir Shah is from Bangladesh. Grainy footage appeared to show Shah, who has stood in 40 one-day internationals and a number of Twenty20 internationals, say he was willing to give LBW decisions on demand.
Shah said any suggestion he was open to bribery was "absolutely rubbish".
"If I am going to fix match, I will be caught some day by the ICC... no umpire fixes matches," he said. Shah was among the umpires at the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year. The competition was marred by corruption allegations and ended up with former Bangladeshi international Shariful Haque being indefinitely banned.
Pakistan umpire Nadeem Ghouri, another of those named, also denied any involvement.
"I am surprised at these baseless allegations," he said.
Elsewhere, Gamini Dissanayake, one of three Sri Lankans to be named, told the Colombo-based Daily Mirror the allegation was a "fabrication".
"Obviously this is an attempt at mudslinging," he told the daily.
Sri Lanka's cricket board pledged to help the ICC investigation although one official rejected the allegations as a smear.
An undercover sting by India TV channel allegedly found that six umpires, including one who is a regular fixture on the international circuit, were willing to give decisions or provide inside information on teams and playing conditions in return for illicit payments.
The accusations were broadcast only a day after the West Indies' victory over hosts Sri Lanka in the final of the World Twenty20 tournament, quickly souring the atmosphere after one of the game's premier events. None of the umpires were involved in the tournament.
The International Cricket Council called on India TV "to turn over any information which can assist the ICC's urgent investigations into this matter".
Three of those named were from Sri Lanka and two were from Pakistan. The sixth was Nadir Shah is from Bangladesh. Grainy footage appeared to show Shah, who has stood in 40 one-day internationals and a number of Twenty20 internationals, say he was willing to give LBW decisions on demand.
Shah said any suggestion he was open to bribery was "absolutely rubbish".
"If I am going to fix match, I will be caught some day by the ICC... no umpire fixes matches," he said. Shah was among the umpires at the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year. The competition was marred by corruption allegations and ended up with former Bangladeshi international Shariful Haque being indefinitely banned.
Pakistan umpire Nadeem Ghouri, another of those named, also denied any involvement.
"I am surprised at these baseless allegations," he said.
Elsewhere, Gamini Dissanayake, one of three Sri Lankans to be named, told the Colombo-based Daily Mirror the allegation was a "fabrication".
"Obviously this is an attempt at mudslinging," he told the daily.
Sri Lanka's cricket board pledged to help the ICC investigation although one official rejected the allegations as a smear.
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