ICC investigates Pakistan over fresh fixing claims

Pakistan’s scandal-tainted cricketers are the subject of a new corruption probe after suspected irregularities in the third one-day international with England, officials confirmed yesterday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said it had launched an investigation into a “certain scoring pattern” which emerged during Pakistan’s victory over England at the Oval on Friday.

It followed a report by The Sun newspaper which claimed to have been made aware of details of Pakistan’s innings before the match had got underway.

The paper tipped off cricket authorities who then watched as the scoring patterns in two suspect overs emerged as predicted, The Sun report said. The overall result of the match was not believed to be fixed, the report added.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the new allegations – which follow the suspension of three Pakistan players for alleged involvement in “spot-fixing” – warranted further investigation.

“Following information re-ceived by the ICC from a British newspaper and its source, the ICC now believes a full investigation is warranted,” an ICC statement read.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said yesterday it believed the remaining two contests in the five-match one-day series would take place as scheduled.

According to The Sun, the latest allegations emerged after the paper was notified of calls between a Dubai-based match-fixer and a New Delhi bookmaker.

The newspaper immediately notified the ICC’s anti-corruption unit headed by former police chief Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

The investigation is another body-blow to Pakistan, who have been under the spotlight this summer amid allegations of ‘spot-fixing’ against members of the touring party.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif have all been questioned by police over an alleged plot to bowl deliberate no-balls during last month’s Test series while a fourth player, seamer Wahab Riaz, was also interviewed by the authorities on Tuesday. All deny any wrongdoing.