Fixing verdicts harden Australia's resolve

Australian captain Michael Clarke says there was 'no place in any sport for match-fixing of any kind.'

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia on Wednesday said the conviction in London of two Pakistani cricketers in a spot-fixing case made it "even more committed" to tackling corruption in the sport.

"It is critically important that the public has confidence in the integrity of the on-field cricket contests it sees," said chief James Sutherland.

"Like all other member countries, we have an obligation to implement anti-corruption measures and we are even more committed to this after hearing today's news out of the London courts.

"Our consistent position has been that any credible evidence of corruption be investigated with vigour," he added.

Australian captain Michael Clarke said there was "no place in any sport for match-fixing of any kind."

"The verdicts handed down today in the UK should act as a strong deterrent for any player or administrator who tries to denigrate our great game," Clarke said.

He added: "While today's proceedings are a step in the right direction it is hugely important that the authorities continue to put processes in place to rid the game of match-fixing forever."

Sutherland was forced to defend Australian cricket after allegations were made during the trial that the nation's players were involved in match-fixing.

The cricket chief dismissed the claims, made by agent Mazhar Majeed in a secretly recorded video, as "outlandish" earlier this month, and said his organisation had long taken an emphatic stand against corruption.

Former Test captain Salman Butt and fast-bowler Mohammad Asif were on Tuesday found guilty of a spot-fixing betting scam during a match against England last year in a case that rocked the cricket world.