Suspend Pakistan over fixing claims: ex-ICC chief
Former ICC boss Malcolm Speed said there was a compelling case to suspend Pakistan from world cricket.
SYDNEY:
Former ICC boss Malcolm Speed said on Monday there was a compelling case to suspend Pakistan from world cricket after explosive match-rigging allegations hit the national team.
Australia's Speed, who was chief executive of the International Cricket Council from 2001 until 2008, said suspension was a "serious" option for Pakistan.
"It looks as though it is endemic that several of the team members are involved and have been for some time," Speed told national radio. "So perhaps they need a rest. It looks a fairly compelling case."
British police are investigating after the News of the World newspaper revealed claims of "spot-fixing" by Pakistani players in the just-completed fourth Test against England at Lord's.
The alleged fixer at the centre of the storm was also caught on video boasting that January's Sydney Test between Pakistan and Australia was rigged, earning him $1.3 million.
Mazhar Majeed, 35, a property developer and alleged players' agent, was arrested on match-fixing charges in London and later bailed.
Scotland Yard detectives have also grilled Pakistan captain Salman Butt and two of their strike bowlers, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif and reportedly also took possession of their mobile phones.
Speed, who remains a respected figure in the game, said cricket was still bedevilled by corruption. "Corrupt bookmakers and gamblers are still out there," he said.
"(It's) great that they've been caught in England where there is a very sophisticated legal system that deals with conspiracy and specifically with cheating in sport."
"So I see that as a major positive. I would have liked it to have happened when I was involved with ICC but it didn't happen at that time."
Former ICC boss Malcolm Speed said on Monday there was a compelling case to suspend Pakistan from world cricket after explosive match-rigging allegations hit the national team.
Australia's Speed, who was chief executive of the International Cricket Council from 2001 until 2008, said suspension was a "serious" option for Pakistan.
"It looks as though it is endemic that several of the team members are involved and have been for some time," Speed told national radio. "So perhaps they need a rest. It looks a fairly compelling case."
British police are investigating after the News of the World newspaper revealed claims of "spot-fixing" by Pakistani players in the just-completed fourth Test against England at Lord's.
The alleged fixer at the centre of the storm was also caught on video boasting that January's Sydney Test between Pakistan and Australia was rigged, earning him $1.3 million.
Mazhar Majeed, 35, a property developer and alleged players' agent, was arrested on match-fixing charges in London and later bailed.
Scotland Yard detectives have also grilled Pakistan captain Salman Butt and two of their strike bowlers, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif and reportedly also took possession of their mobile phones.
Speed, who remains a respected figure in the game, said cricket was still bedevilled by corruption. "Corrupt bookmakers and gamblers are still out there," he said.
"(It's) great that they've been caught in England where there is a very sophisticated legal system that deals with conspiracy and specifically with cheating in sport."
"So I see that as a major positive. I would have liked it to have happened when I was involved with ICC but it didn't happen at that time."