Sourav Ganguly rubbishes British newspapers match fixing claims

The former Indian cricketer, Sourav Ganguly, has refuted a report in a newspaper, alleging that the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan was fixed. The Indian batsman does not find enough proof in the report and considers it a farce.

Speaking to media personnel on the prevailing issue, Ganguly said, “I don't know how they have got the information but let me tell (you) that India are world champions and nobody can take that away from us.”

British newspaper the “Sunday Times”, published a report on Sunday, March 11, 2012, in which, Vicky Seth a Delhi-based bookie has claimed that he has the contacts to fix international matches such as Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s.

Seth was speaking to under-cover reporter Mazher Mahmood, and he claimed that bookies were involved in rigging the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup.

The bookie further said that punters pay hundreds and thousands of pounds to cricketers from India, Pakistan, England, New Zealand and other nations to fix parts of, or complete matches. According to Seth, batsmen are paid sums around £44,000 for slow run rates, while bowlers are paid around £50,000 to concede runs.

Certain Bollywood actresses are hired to contact players. High profile T20 domestic competitions like the Indian Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League are bookies' favourite tournaments when it comes to fixing, held Seth. The Delhi based bookie said that England’s County championship is the next destination, considering that nobody is monitoring them.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed these claims. The chief executive of the ICC, Haroon Lorgat has said that the governing body will not hold any investigation in this matter.

Lorgat sent an e-mail to media people from Dubai which read, “The ICC has no reason or evidence to require an investigation into this match. It is indeed sad for spurious claims to be made which only serve to cause doubt on the semi-final of one of the most successful ICC Cricket World Cups ever.”

Match and spot-fixing in cricket has been the topic of discussion ever since 2010 when three cricketers from Pakistan – namely Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt – were found guilty of being involved in this malpractice. The whole issue resurfaced when an English cricketer Mervyn Westfield, from Essex, pleaded guilty to spot fixing.