ICC To Investigate Twenty20 Match-Fixing Allegations Made Against Umpires

The latest "sting operation has revealed that six umpires were ready to be bribed" during the recently concluded Twenty20 World Cup and Sri Lanka Premier League in August, according to IANS. India TV, which had earlier conducted a sting operation on corruption in India's domestic circuit, "has come up with another footage showing six umpires from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, willing to give wrong decisions during a game." The umpires are Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui of Pakistan, Nadir Shah of Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka's Gamini Dissanayake, Maurice Winston and Sagara Gallage. Amongst the officials interrogated on camera, only Shah and Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid represent the current umpire panel of the Int'l Cricket Council. The channel, however, "claimed that Sharfudoullah refused to give any favour in lieu of money offered by the undercover reporters" (IANS, 10/8).

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED: The BBC reported that the ICC has launched an "urgent investigation" into the match-fixing allegations. In a statement responding to India TV's claims, the ICC said: "The ICC and its relevant members have been made aware of the allegations made by India TV this evening and calls on the station to turn over any information which can assist the ICC's urgent investigations into this matter. The ICC reiterates its zero tolerance towards corruption whether alleged against players or officials. The ICC will not make any further comment on this issue" (BBC, 10/8).