- Join the France 24 community here
- Log in
Members of Pakistan’s cricket team have been accused of match fixing after a newspaper sting.
The News of the World, Britain’s biggest-selling Sunday paper, claims its undercover reporters gave £150,000 (€180,000) to London-based Mazhar Majeed to make sure “no-balls” were bowled at specific times during a test match against England, that was comfortably won by the home team at London's Lords ground on Sunday.
"I'm going to give you three no-balls to prove to you firstly that this is what's happening. They've all been organised, okay?" The News of The World quoted Majeed as saying.
"This is exactly what's going to happen, you're going to see these three things happen. I'm telling you, if you play this right you're going to make a lot of money, believe me!" he added.
The tabloid claims that Majeed, whom it alleges is the players’ “fixer”, had identified Pakistan captain Salman Butt as the ringleader, as well as seven other members of the team.
Police said they have arrested a 35-year-old man, believed to be Majeed, in connection with the allegations.
What is a “no-ball”?
A “no-ball” is the cricket equivalent of a foul, when the umpire judges the ball has been incorrectly bowled.
When a “no-ball” is played, the batsman can score but cannot be declared “out” if the ball hits the stumps.
Most cricket fans would not notice a fixed “no-ball”, as they occur regularly during games. But vast sums of money can be made at bookmakers by placing bets on “no-balls”, by predicting when they will occur and which bowlers they are attributed to.
Play to resume Sunday
Police at Britain’s Scotland Yard said in a statement: “Following information received from the News of the World, we have today arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said it was aware of the situation and was “fully assisting” police with their enquiries.
“No players, nor team officials, have been arrested in relation to this incident and the […] test match will continue as scheduled on Sunday,” the ICC said in a statement.
Any player found guilty of involvement in match fixing faces a life ban from the sport.
The allegations overshadowed the last day of play on Sunday, as England cruised to victory by an inning and 225 runs to win the four-match series.
Related Content
SPORTS news, stories and scores - Football, tennis, F1…
‘Darth Vader’ demands free land from Ukrainian government
Browse all editions
FRANCE 24 PARTNERS
Comments (2)
Pakistan cricketers are accused of match fixing
new event for sport ? match fixing event now really cricket is not sports even basic of business investing project
Pakistan cricketers are accused of match fixing
now cricket is not sport that is business bookmaker buy cricketer over craze people buy ticket big price and worth cricket I love before cricket but now i no like even Pakistan very big Disaster their people no food no medical facility but Pakistan cricket team help them only $54.000 ? Pakistan people value like that what kind of cricketers Pakistan ? important cricket or Pakistan people ? with out Pakistan people wear play cricket ? now world all of cricketers follow only money not sport see after one mach how many million $ who give this money why this match money pay for only 04hrs that's reasons is sport smuggling now need new rules and regulation organizer public by media all player how mach their pay
Post new comment