PCB in touch with ICC over match-fixing reports

Kingstown (St.Vincent), July 29 (IANS/CMC) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says it is concerned about reports in the British media of match fixing in the recently concluded One-Day series between the West Indies and Pakistan in the Caribbean.

A Pakistan Board official has been quoted as saying that the PCB has been in touch with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the matter, reports CMC.

The allegations were raised in the British tabloid Daily Mail Sunday which reported that the series, which Pakistan won 3-1, was set to be investigated over claims of wrongdoing.

"The PCB is obviously extremely concerned at the recent allegations of fixing reported in the media with regard to recently concluded ODI series between Pakistan and the West Indies," the official told ESPNcricinfo Sunday.

"The PCB maintains zero tolerance towards corruption in the game but investigations in this matter falls within the purview of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit."

The Daily Mail did not reveal the specific source of the concerns, but reported that they have been raised, in particular, around the tied third match of the series played in St. Lucia last week as well as the final game, which resulted in a last-ball win for Pakistan.

The article quoted one betting website as reporting unusually large sums of money - said to run into several millions of pounds - being wagered between innings on a tied result during the third ODI after the West Indies were set 230 to win from 50 overs.

"There were suspicious betting patterns on a betting exchange," the article quoted betting expert Ed Hawkins, the author of 'Bookie, Gambler, Fixer, Spy'.

"A suspicious pattern, simply, is a flood of money wagered on an outcome just before it happens. There were some noticeable examples of this during the West Indies-Pakistan series. In the tied match, a weight of cash arrived on the tie market before Pakistan's innings."

The Mail reported that a passage of play, between the 29th and 34th overs, will also be analysed in an effort to understand why just two runs were scored from five overs before 16 were hit off the 35th over.

"The PCB is in contact with the ICC on this issue and understands that ICC will be issuing a media release soon," ESPNcricinfo quoted the unnamed PCB official as saying.

"The PCB, at the moment, is examining all legal aspects but for the time being will not be making any further comments."

Pakistan also won the Twenty20 leg of the tour, 2-0, which ended in St. Vincent Sunday.

--IANS/CMC

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