Newspaper sting operation uncovers attempt to fix key cricket match

Australian media outlets are reporting that the International Cricket Council has launched an investigation into spot fixing allegations targeting the third Ashes Test between Australia and England in Perth, starting this week.

The investigation follows a sting operation carried out by The Sun newspaper, which claims it has evidence that bookmakers have been offering to sell details of “fixed” elements of the action in the match.

The newspaper has provided the evidence to the ICC, a spokesman confirmed Thursday.

Alex Marshall, the ICC’s head of anti-corruption, said: “We take the allegations extremely seriously and they will be investigated by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit working with anti-corruption colleagues from Member countries.

“From my initial assessment of the material, there is no evidence, either from The Sun or via our own intelligence, to suggest the current Test Match has been corrupted. At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication that any players in this Test have been in contact with the alleged fixers.

“The allegations are wide ranging and relate to various forms cricket in several countries, including T20 tournaments. We will look closely at all the information as part of our investigation.”

The evidence reportedly includes a secretly recorded video by Sun reporters indicated that the going rate for information on the fixes was A$200,000.

The newspaper claims a person appearing in the video is a bookmaker, who tells a reporter purporting to be a potential buyer of information:

“Before match, I will tell you this over, this runs and then you have to put all the bets on that over.”