Al Jazeera is not publicly divulging the players it claims were involved in match-fixing.GETTY IMAGES
Al Jazeera is "refusing to confirm or deny" whether any New Zealand cricketers are included in its latest allegations of widespread match fixing, according to the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Investigative journalist David Harrison said that the news organization was not "publicly divulging" the players it claims have been involving in fixing int'l matches because it has not identified the "money trail." But he said that Al Jazeera wrote "hundreds of letters" to players and boards it believes are involved to "give them the right of reply." Cricket authorities called on Al Jazeera to "provide better evidence to them." Harrison said that cricket's reaction was "no surprise." He said, "Cricket closes ranks, protects itself, people who haven't even seen the film are condemning it. It is no surprise, it is a nervy sport, an insecure sport. Cricket doesn't want to face up to an ugly reality -- there is a terrible, murky side to cricket. These guys don't want to face up to it" (NZ HERALD, 10/23).
'EXAGGERATED' CLAIMS: In Sydney, Andrew Wu reported departing Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland "does not believe the tying of player pay to performance" by CA played any part in the ball tampering scandal, describing links between the two as "exaggerated." He added, "They're a very, very small fraction of overall payments. I don't in any way subscribe to that as a behavioral issue. In fact, I don't even believe it's in the players' minds at all" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/23).