Cricket: CA and BCCI accused of collusion

SYDNEY: Australia and India colluded in a manner “contrary to the spirit of cricket” in the 2008 Sydney Test, according to International Cricket Council’s (ICC) appeals commissioner John Hansen, who heard the case in January 2008.

Hansen has been quoted by former ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed in his memoirs describing what he called “behind the scenes” discussions by the two boards in the incident that involved Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds and India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Hansen said that both boards contravened the spirit of the game.

“Although both boards would deny it, both were having discussions behind the scenes to resolve matters,” wrote Hansen.

“They presented me with an agreed statement and a consent order that they expected me to rubber-stamp.”



Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2011.