Though the corruption level in cricket have gone down for good, reports say that three skippers of current Test playing nations have received baits from bookies to fix international matches. According to reports by the Standard Sport, all the three offers are from intermediaries linked to illegal betting syndicates on the Indian sub-continent. However, keeping it clean, all the three approaches were reported to the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) within 60 minutes time.
The bookies coming in contact with the players might be a negative sign for the game when the council is trying its best to wipe off the corruption scenario, but it is also an awareness raiser for the players.
Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the former Northern Ireland police chief is leading all the three investigations with extreme intensity as a part of seven investigations related to corruption in the game.
Zimbabwe’s Graeme Cremer and Sarfraz Ahmed, of Pakistan, are believed to be two out of three captains approached by the bookies.
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The ACU is also investigating the allegations of inducements offered to Dinesh Chandimal and his Sri Lankan team, but none of the players including Dinesh Chandimal are suspected of any wrongdoing.
Zimbabwe skipper, Cremer was approached before his side’s two-Test series against West Indies in Bulawayo in October. The players were made aware before the first Test on October 21 that a member of the team have been approached by bookies to indulge himself in corrupt practices. Zimbabwe Cricket is assisting the ICC with their inquiries.
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Sarfraz Ahmed was chosen as a target by the bookies during Pakistan’s one-day series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates. The player performed his loyal duties by reporting the incident to the ACU via Pakistan team management, following his side’s Third ODI in Abu Dhabi on October 18. Players are said to have been offered between $10,000 (£7,500) and $150,000 (£111,000).