The International Cricket Council has launched a probe into a claim by the Sunday Times that Indian bookmakers fixed last year’s World Cup semifinal between Pakistan and India.
The newspaper’s investigation revealed that the bookmakers are fixing county games played in England and other international matches. The bookmakers offer thousands of pounds – £44,000 to batsmen to bat sluggishly, £50,000 to bowlers to give up runs and £750,000 for a player or official for an assured match result.
To lure cricketers from different countries including England, the fixers claimed to have used a Bollywood actress.
The newspaper quoted a Delhi bookmaker as saying that good money could be made from county cricket as it “is a good market” as the matches are low profile and not monitored. The Sunday Times forwarded the findings to ICC, which said that it would probe into the allegations.
An ICC spokesperson said:
“We are grateful for the information you have provided and will launch an inquiry into these serious allegations.”
“Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars being bet on every match, the threat of corrupters seeking to influence the game has not gone away.”
COMMENTS (121)
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@nationalist baloch: Very well said.. i think they are all paid to post comments on ET...
And you try to post a comment on Hindustan times.... they will never post it... freedom of speech... my foot....
@Pakistani Agnostic: don't be soooooooooo touchy.....
@Pakistani Agnostic: hahah!! why its just a game of cricket. we have other thing too to cry.
shame on u ,u cheep playr , why do u game with pak &pakistani senstive nation , when evry body leave s there work for tommorw to see u the winner , why dont u look aftr there feeling , i reques pcb ,if any player involve in these kinds of shme less actvties,just nt should b suspenden also b jaild
@Truth: Lol it was so obvious that Indian loosers can never win a match against Pak without fixing!
LMFAO....Truth has ended the argument..so indeed PAK players are match fixers and do a favor on INDIA by loosing the matches...This makes PAK players are more 'Indian' than 'Indians' themselves....thanks to all the PAK players for your love towards INDIA !!!
@MAD: This theory did surface but untill Afridi or Misbah gets the urge to sing it will remain just a theory. Thanks anyway.
Its high time that ICC should stop depending upon BCCI for finance. IPL is just what fixers wants , Indian dismal performance depicted their true caliber and class despite of wining the WC , wait a second a fixed WC.
Ohh and apparently, a Bollywood actor's name has come up in this issue.
I will come and apologize on this forum if that actor does not happen to be a Muslim!!!!
@Parvez: it was fixed but not by the bookmakers, more like on a government level
@Ahmed: im Pakistani, I usually call him Jinnah cause thats what he preferred to be called when he was alive, just Mr. Jinnah
i do not known semi final is fix or not but i know one thing that if we want choose most suspect match of that tournament that is final of WC 2011 between sir lanka and india . so probe will start from that match and also how sir lankan player get handsome contact of IPL .
ICC might clear it anyway LOTS OF MATCHES ARE FIXED BUT DO YOU EXPECT THE ICC TO DO IT The ICC President is one of the most corrupted politicians in India
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM HIM HE CLEARED THE SYDNEY TEST ALONG WITH MANY OTHER
ICC SHOULD BE CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE COUNCIL
@Senman: We all know that Headquarters of bookies are in india and indians in england
We all know Pakistani's fix matches, so what's new?.
When Afridi came for the toss, looking at his body language, I told my friends that this match is fixed and Pak is losing, and I won 100$ from my innocent friends who yet believe that our team plays with integrity. The tournament was staged for Sachin, final in Mumbai, his 5th attempt, he had to win it (otherwise who would call him #Bhagwan), how will the Indian companies make money by selling products endorsed by "Bhagwan". I call for all the Pakistanis to join me in the boycott of watching any Pakistan match. We are already fooled enough by our politicians, we can't allow these cricketers to do the same! We waste our time and money to see these sell-outs lose an easy match. There are so many instances, if I start pointing them out I would be writing for a week! Agar fix hi karna hai tu Kabhi jeetnay ke liye bhi fix kar liya karo! #Disgrace #NoMoreWatchingPakMatches
I just don't understand why does ICC always needs someone's confession to start their so-call investigation .... even a fool can tell u that England V Netherlands was fixed, India V Pak semi was fixed so was India V Sirilanka final ..... Just don't tell me that no one smell rats when Sangakar resigned from Lanaka's captaincy citing poor performance of his team ,,, r u kidding me he led the team to WC finals .... WC was literally purchased by Indians
Now why cry over spilt milk?India won World Cricket Cup and that's all.Thus by blaming and accusing India-Pakistan's W.C.C. semi-final of match fixing can you return W.C.C. winner title from India?
The pakistani players are not so good that they cannot loose without match fixing.
Dear Readers,
The Bottom line...the Whole nation of pakistan is plain Jeleous to no end that India won the world cup. Shame on you, You nation full of disgraceful loosers.
just another attempt to pressurize Pakistan team before Asian game...
@truth:
so if you try to identify people from their foreskins, how will you catch MOSSAD agents, who are also circumcised?
@PakPunjabi: Bank accounts of the suspected players should be scrutinised after the s/f match and the truth would come out, otherwise this news is a mere speculation.
Does any one of you brainiacs who are saying Indians fixed the match realize that you dont fix the match to win, but to lose.
A Player cannot take money to play better, but to play bad. Who dropped so many catches? Who batted so badly in the 2nd innings in that match? Hint: Not Indians.
Its hilarious to see people not realizing this simple fact.
@Adil: Hassan Nisar normally talks sense
Like last time, small fishes(players) will be caught but big fishes (bookies/management) will be let go.
@ Vishal.Anybody who is giving or taking money to change the results of a game is a match fixer. I am sure tendulkar must have paid money to kamran akmal and Misbah. Kamran akmal to drop catches so he can score a century against pakistan and paid money to misbah for scoring slow runs so india can win.
@zaid hamid: You must add and LOL to your pun.
44,000 pounds to bat sluggishly? I bet ya Misbah ul Haq is a rich man. 750,000 pounds for a player to guarantee failure? Guess what? Kamran Akmal is richer!
Pakistani cricketers get paid good. Then, there are advertisements and gifts and plots and houses presented to them every now and then. If they still continue doing this, it is certainly unacceptable. It is better to not have a team than to have one that only disappoints you. People have enough stresses in their lives anyways and getting rid of the cricket team would be one less source of tension.
@Truth:
.....Well there are many Hindus arrested doing mischief in the area. What identifies them well they were all uncircumcised...
From when did you guys started to identity people looking at their genitals instead of papers?
Like many hundred millions cricket fanatics of the subcontinent I was also hoping to witness some thrillers during last years world cup matches.Sadly the expectation was no more than a wishful thinking.Most of the matches were dull and at times boring.Dropping of simple catches ,misfielding and lethargic running were quite visible on the field.Recognised bowlers and batsmen performed much below their reputation and rating yet were included in the following matches. In 90s a few players from India and Pakistan were found guilty and banned for life by their respective authorities.They were in league with bookies.South African players were named and accused of accepting money from Indian book makers.Similarly players from other countries were also suspected of foul play. Kerry Packer,the brain behind the ODIs had paid handsome money to players who played in mathces sponsored by him.All such players were banned by ICC from official matches though the money was paid to players overboard supported by a contract. What is surprising to cricket fans is that ICC reacts only when media reports some wrong doings months after the events.It is hoped ICC will revisit it's monitoring strategy and become proactive and live unto it's images.
ICC = WWE.. its all entertainment!
@zaid hamid: Ha Ha like that!
@Pushpender: Whenever any newspaper comes up with a news item in the form of a complaint or allegation the responsible organisation has to conduct an enquiry. I only hope some result comes out of this investigation or otherwise it would be like the Clinton enquiry where 40 million pounds of tax payers' was spent just to prove something which just fizzled out!
I can laugh all day over the fact that someone can actually bribe some player to play better. The guy who made that discovery should be given a nobel prize.
Ha ha ha, after reading comments by pakistani people on this news made my day, i have never seen such dumb comments ever. Talking about expectation from the indian team before world cup they were termed as number one contender of the trophy and the reason being plain simple "performance". India won 45 of their 56 ODI at home prior to world cup also the last ODI series india lost at home was way back in 2008 against austrailia that too very close one, so any donkey can conclude from the stats which team was in supreme form and which team was no where in the scene. 2.5 years unbeaten at home before worldcup also 3 series after worldcup won at home. But no pakistani will accept it coz they can't accept failure.
generalize generalize generalize....
hardly any1 blaming pakistani players....all guns on BCCI...indian bookies etc etc etc...when many of them are caught...jailed etc etc
one guy said india won coz final was fixed in mumbai...history tells us that no country before 2011 won finals on their home soil....
one such report comes out and almost all pakistani commentators fire at others....one guy describes sham economic progress coz some indians commenting here....awesome...
good going
@Raj: Well there are many Hindus arrested doing mischief in the area. What identifies them well they were all uncircumcised. And why building so many consulates in the most backward country like Afghanistan.? Only to create problems.
As a true professional, my instincts tell me that I should not announce a hunger strike on this one. You know how we Indians just 'love' our cricket! ;) ;) ;)
The body language of Pakistan players during the match was suspicious, specially dropping several catches and slow batting specially by Misbah.
The player who are ready to loose match just for money are worst than players who are getting money to win the match. How can some one betray the country for money...Think of it. On the contrary, Indian players got money+win the match, nothing to bad for them. But really ashamed of PAK players who just play cricket for money :)
@zaid hamid: Love your humor
... lot of jobless, faarigh Indians ... result of sham economic progress ... just sit on the internet and while time away ... reading Pakistani newspapers instead of the Indian Rags being passed off as journalistic endeavour ...
Not only semi final, final was fixed too. It was do or die situation for Indian Cricket and they needed world cup at any cost,. Players were under tremendous pressure and history tell us that Indians cannot win when they are under pressure.
Let us get some facts straight,
A. In match fixing. a team or at least some players take money to LOSE the game. The winners win because the other side decides to lose. Blaming the winners is futile.
B. In all match fixing scandals (England v/s Pakistan, Australia v/s Pakistan, India v/s Pakistan) we can blame either one team that is involved in all the games or absolve them and blame the rest of the world. The choice is yours.
C. Incidentally, Pakistan did lose to Afghanistan as well in the Asian Games. Any ideas, Why?
To be honest, the game of cricket has lost its charm and real excitement a long time back.By mixing commercialism and corporate culture with the sport, they have destroyed the spirit...and now it sounds more like a drama or a political play.Even players from developed nations such as Hansie Cronje became scapegoats in all the filthy maneuvering.
I remember this column by Hassan Nisar last year when World Cup fever was running high and many television anchors were seen wearing Cricket T-Shirts. He clearly said that our economy is in shambles,we are listed as a failed nation, our institutions are in mess but all we care about is a World Cup trophy. Do we as an individual ever show so much enthusiasm in getting better rankings in terms of literacy rate,trade and controlling inflation?
@Pakistani Agnostic: So, pls you can go ahead with your plan dont wait it is open secret which took time to reveal.....you can easily understand if you have watched the game how the Pakistani fielders were spoiling the catches and the pathetic batting of Afridi and Misbah.......there is no fairness in the game of cricket anymore....money matters a lot and these players play with the emotion of the whole nation........yet we keep on supporting them as we have become hostage to these players
Could anyone plz tell me d name of heroine who was involved in d whole process of match fixing?
@Arjun Shetty: problem lies with India as they have huge match fixing mafia, the money spinning BCCI and the clout it enjoys in ICC due to advertising money......remember teams are forced to lose these days by match fixing mafia rather than players doing it themsleves......have you forgotten woolmer, cronje and zulqarnain....whosoever tries to open mouth against mubai fixers ...he either dies or is shunted out....so problem is INDIA not any other team or country......
@Tony Singh: so how can you enjoy your world champ status.....>???? you were gifted the cup...??? remember fixing not only comes from players ...it can come from death threats posed by mumbai fixers...and players abide by due to strong network of indian fixing mafia.....!!!!!!!!!
@Arjun Shetty: At least our players are punished.... In case of India, players like azharuddin was banned .... Why was he not jailed??
@Pinto: There is no frustration my friend..... You guys need to look at ur own backyard before blaming others.... From the sound of it, u look frustrated!!!
@truth "Where there is a Hindu there is a problem. Baghal may churi muon pay ram ram. Pakistani players come from menial backgrounds and giving them few thousands pounds to sell their soul is piece of cake. It’s in the blood of indo-pak to sell themselves to the highest bidder."
Charming generalization, self-hate and racism. Condemn a billion and a half people with simplified one-liners before even the matter has been investigated.
Here in the West, we always sell ourselves to less than the highest bidder. We are not rational, you see.
Arrest all pakistani players then?
I have a very simple question to ask from my Pakistani friends that since the match was won by India allegedly through match fixing, then would not the Pakistani players be involved in losing this S/F ?? Why so many are blaming India, BCCI or bookies and not their own players ?
I can assure that if it was some thing like; " Indians last eight test matches are supposedly fixed" no no NO probe would have been from ICC (read; Indian Cricket Council). Pkaistanis please please change your mind set regarding your home land. I severe we are not too bad. So please Paskitanis dont get frustrated. No match can be fixed in this era; because no one can buy 11 players.
@Pakistani Agnostic: Pakistanis seem to have fixed the today's Bangladesh match too.. @Fahad: you almost turned Red, take a chill pill before you turn brown, i don't think Pakistanis are stupid enough to fix such a intense and crucial match nor the environment was conducive to such adventures,that to after ignominious event.it wasn't really a hospitable environment to conduct any extra curricular activities especially for pakistan.
The problem lies with Pakistan cricket and its society. Everything is fixed or someone has conspired. In the past TEN years, Pakistanis have made ten thousand allegations-each and everytime-a pakistani cricketer got caught and some even went to JAIL. The cheater will not be punished. Yet instead of fixing the national issues, they keep fooling themselves despite loosing convincingly due to lack of discipline. A nation looses because it lacks discipline not because it lacks talent. But the religiously driven society guided by illusions that only islam is supreme is more bent to believe and cheat themselves that outside forces and conspiring forces have caused the defeat. JUST LOOK AT THE COMMENTS ON THIS BOARD. When a nation is gone-how can a cricket team survive?
India is a hub of Match fixers
Pakistan vs England Pakistan vs Australia Pakistan vs India
What is the common factor in these allegations?
another Pandora Box!!
I think Indian cricket should be banned, as its India as a nation who sponsors bookmakers in to world of cricket its their created mess and dirt just ban India to clean cricket!
I am sure of only one thing: we need evidence that's solid like the one that convicted 3 players in England. Once we have the evidence then the Pakistani public should not let these guys live on this land, they will be seeking asylum you know where!
Each pakistani commentating here is saying that BCCI can do anything and they can't prove anything against BCCI then why u people are wasting your time instead do some constructive work to cover up the destructive work u have done in past. Save your pakistan from terrorism and terrorist suppoerted by people like haafiz saeed and then think about anything.
@Pakistani Agnostic: What will you call yourself if not a 'Pakistani'? Do you even have a choice? Of course, the fixing claims are true. It was apparent to everybody - even halfway through the game.
From the very first ball it was fixed when umar gull pitch the ball against the field set. and keep doing in next few overs. drop catches, power play. wicket loosing, changing of gloves of Umar Akmal and so on. all leads to match fixing.
@XXX: And why do we have the head office of bookies in India... what action has been taken in India on this.. zilch... nothing....
Lol it was so obvious that Indian loosers can never win a match against Pak without fixing!
@Ahmed: Well said Ahmed... there are many indians using pakistani names to malign pakistan... pathetic tactics....
I think we all knew India was going to win the world cup when the ICC decided to host the final in India! Unfortunately, this other mafia known as the BCCI is too strong for any of us to touch, condemn or investigate.
@Truth 'Where there is a Hindu there is a problem'. Check the head line of this news paper 'Suicide blast at funeral leaves 15 dead, 33 injured' and tell your truth. Tell me a single day where you did not have any blast in Pakistan? Shane on you for claiming yourself a saint from the heaven.
@ahmed first you should dig some facts and then talk, use of technology in cricket have always supported india why should they refuse to use it the reason is plain simple and was stated by media managers during england tour where with use of hot spot 5 decisions which were clearly out were overturned.
If the match is really fixed who's fault is that? who accepted the money? winners or losers? 55K pounds or even more is peanuts for Indian players? Obviously blame will come on Pakistani players for under-performing and accepting those peanuts.
Alas.. another match fixing news involves Pakistan leaving bad impression, The whole nation specially overseas pakistanis suffer due to this kind of news. Now i wish PCB start investigating the matter by all their means to solid conclusion despite of waiting for ICC to probe and force their decision to Pakistani cricketers; as seen by the glasses of ICC there is not a single match fixer in the whole cricketing world except Pakistanis.
@zaid hamid:
this is one of the best comment that you have ever made on this site!!!!!!!!!!
@mee,Indian Players Fixed the World cup to win it?? I also want to learn such fixing where U can win after fixing. Pakistan should also learn it from India.Whenever they fix any match,they lost it.:-(
Every person who watched the match strongly suspected match fixing....4 dropped catches for Sachin, Kamran Akmal's critical drops in key matches...however too much at stake and India Cricket Board will not let this go far.....
Where there is a Hindu there is a problem. Baghal may churi muon pay ram ram. Pakistani players come from menial backgrounds and giving them few thousands pounds to sell their soul is piece of cake. It's in the blood of indo-pak to sell themselves to the highest bidder.
ICC never investigate for this , because ICC's father India(BCCI's players) could also be involved. Justice is only for poor Pakistani players !!!!!!
@Ahmed:
Lol. What nonsense. I and countless Pakistanis just like me who I have interacted with all say Jinnah.
Breaking News: Indian players involved in Match & Spot Fixing. Indian Players did fix the Semi-Final of Worldcup 2011. British Media
ICC starts investigating...
Its simple. If any one has sold national pride for sake of dollars, he must be exposed and punished. No sympathies for cheapsters.
@MAD: I'm dumb, kindly explain.
@Raza
Then show your guts and talk straight. You're indirectly referring to India and Sachin.
If these allegations are proved then I think these players should be tried for treason! NOTHING LESS THEN TREASON! I am so sick by just reading this news!
@sanjay:
Watch your own backyard first. The whole concentration of fixing mafia is in India. BCCI is one of the obstacles in tranparent games, like its resistence to neutral umpires, use of technology etc etc
I have doubt that Afridi is not involved in this because even Mazhar Majeed said that Afridi refused his offers and cursed him. I have firm belief that Kamran Akmal is involved since he dropped so many catches etc.
If this is true I will not watch pakistani cricket anymore ever.
The only way indians could have won world cup is by fixing. Thanks to big pocketed bookmakers in Mumbai and sell outs in BCCI.
The performance of indian team after world cup is open evidence how dismal that team has been all the year.
The infrastructure of cricket in pakistan need to change, if the players are paid enough by the cricket board itself like BCCI then bet me if any player fixes any match.
Im glad its coming from the horse's mouth (Indian bookies) themselves...
Players who fix matches should be declared "gaddar" whether it be any country. Nation comes first and personal interest later.
How do they exactly use bollywood actress?
It was not only the semi final.Many other matches in the world cup were also fixed.
Who will not die at the naievety of the ICC. What to talk of semi finals, who doesn't know that final was also fixed. But don't forget ICC inquired many times about the Sydney Test between Pakistan and Australia and came out with findings that it was not fixed. Although, Mazhar Majeed, on whose witness and evidences three Pkistani cricketers were jailed in UK, told very clearly that Sydney Test match was also fixed by him, yet, ICC could not find any match fixing evidence, in it's more than one inquests.
It was fixed but the players wernt paid anything for it. now do the math.
I see that most Pakistani are saying their team is guilty even before enquiry has started
Not that i am surprised but its good the matter is finally brought to desks of ICC The quarterfinals, semi final and final were all fixed and india made big black money
The Indian Players should be banned. They were paid to play better. Our player are bekasoor.
I swear on the grave of Jinnah, if this is true, i would stop calling myself Pakistani
When Sachins first catch, the easiest of the of all four was dropped by then Paks best fielder on the ground, 1 million people instantly realized game was fixed.
Now I know what Afridi's "Big heart" comment meant. He meant he had "big heart" to loose the game anso that he and many of his teammates had "big bank balances"
We all knew something was not right in that semi final. Misbah is a shrewd but a smart leader and from T20 World Cup final loss to India years ago he has been playing the same "game" in high profile limited over matches and even in tests. Let's wait and see !!
Oh wow so finally they realize what everyone already knows