ICC investigates Pakistan over fresh fixing claims

Pakistan's scandal-tainted cricketers are the subject of a new corruption probe after suspected irregularities in the third one-day international with England, officials confirmed on Saturday.

It followed a report by The Sun newspaper, which claimed to have been made aware of details of Pakistan's innings before the match had got underway.

The paper tipped off cricket authorities, who then watched as the scoring patterns in two suspect overs emerged as predicted, The Sun report said. The overall result of the match was not believed to be fixed, the report added.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the new allegations which follow the suspension of three Pakistan players for alleged involvement in 'spot fixing' warranted furtheru00a0investigation.

Tip off
"Following information received by the ICC from a British newspaper and its source, the ICC now believes a full investigation is warranted," an ICC statement read.

Lorgat added: "A source informed The Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct.

"We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full enquiry into this particular game although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred. Only in the fullness of the investigation can that be established.

Zero tolerance
"The ICC maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in cricket and, as a matter of course, follows up on all credible information that is received, whatever the source. "Any player or official found guilty of an offence will face the full rigour of our robust Anti-Corruption Code so that we can ensure the integrity of the sport is maintained."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Saturday it believed the remaining two contests in the five-match one-day series would take place as scheduled.

The ECB later confirmed no English players or member of the team management were implicated in the latest probe. According to The Sun, the latest allegations emerged after the paper was notified of calls between a Dubai-based match-fixer and a New Delhi bookmaker.

The newspaper immediately notified the ICC's anti-corruption unit The investigation is another body-blow to Pakistan, who have been under the spotlight this summer amid allegations of spot-fixing against members of the touring party.

Salman Butt, Mohd Amir and Mohd Asif have all been questioned by police over an alleged plot to bowl deliberate no-balls during last month's Test series.

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