Unfortunately for the sport of cricket, the spectre of corruption is still looming large despite the airing of Pakistan’s incredibly dirty laundry during their summer tour of England. Over the past week, two new scandals have engulfed the sport, with more players implicated and not only the Indian sub-continent being accused.
Only days ago the number involved from the Pakistan team rose to seven, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat the latest to be linked to the spot fixing scandal. It was after UK-based bookmaker Mazhar Majeed told an undercover reporter that he in-fact had seven of the 11 players on his payroll, and had targeted only younger players, as it was a long-term plan.
Australia is also amongst the countries to see controversy when it comes to spot fixing. As you will well know the Ashes is currently taking place Down Under, but one bookmaker has come under investigation. Australia’s TAB offered odds of 20/1 on a wide being bowled in the first ball of an innings, something that represents any easy chance for a corrupt cricketer to make money.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat promised to raise the issue with the ACU and Cricket Australia, and told the Daily Mail: “Scenarios that threaten the integrity of the game are not helpful. We have plans to engage with regulators to protect the integrity of the game.”
