The Int'l Cricket Council anti-corruption unit is set to "examine the circumstances surrounding two men being ejected from the second Test in Abu Dhabi for transmitting live data from their seats in the crowd," according to Ben Horne of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Local law enforcement and stadium security at the Sheikh Zayed ground "removed two patrons for allegedly supplying ball-by-ball information to illegal bookmakers during the final match between Pakistan and Australia." It is "not thought the ICC's anti-corruption body were involved in the physical removal of the two men, however they will examine alleged links between the individuals and illegal bookmakers." Such action against spectators is "not unheard of, with bookmakers using spectators to provide live updates for betting purposes" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/4). In Sydney, Andrew Wu reported separate incidents occurred on days one and two of the Abu Dhabi Test. One man was "found to have four phones in his possession." There are "no suggestions that any player from Australia or Pakistan acted improperly." Anti-corruption officers believe any match which is televised "could
be susceptible, including domestic one-day and Twenty20 competitions and
women's matches." Those who relay information are known as
"pitchsiders," a play on the term "courtsiders," who "monitor tennis
matches and pass information to clients wanting to take advantage of the
TV delay for gambling purposes." The activity is considered by cricket's anti-corruption officials as the "next threat to the integrity of the game" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/4).
