Australia dragged into cricket match-fix probe as England deny involvement

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland says there is no credible evidence linking Australian players to corruption after claims were made in a documentary against two unknown players.

Al Jazeera aired the allegations on Monday (NZT), shining the spotlight directly on last year's drawn test between Australia and India in Ranchi, as one of several to be questioned across the world.

England's test against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka was also highlighted in the documentary.

GETTY IMAGES

England captain Joe Root and coach Trevor Bayliss.

The International Cricket Council says it is taking the allegations of corruption seriously and they have launched an investigation.

"The ICC has now had the opportunity to view the documentary into corruption in cricket and as we have previously stated, we are taking the contents of the programme and the allegations it has made extremely seriously," Alex Marshall, general manager of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit, said in a statement on Monday.

"A full investigation led by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, working with full co- operation from all member countries identified in the program, is now underway to examine each claim made."

In the documentary, a criminal claims two unnamed Australian batsmen were paid off to bat slowly during a period of play in the test when he calls from the ground in Ranchi.

Sutherland stressed there was no credible evidence linking any Australian players.

Crucially, there is no time stamp on the footage, and there is no audio of any Australian player present in the documentary.

There was also no way for fixers to know which two batsmen would be batting together at any time in a match, while Australia fought out for a draw.

"Although not having been provided an opportunity to view the documentary or any raw footage, our long-standing position on these matters is that credible claims will be treated very seriously and fully investigated," Sutherland said in a statement.

"Cricket Australia will continue to fully co-operate with the ICC Anti- Corruption Unit in its review of the matter.

"Cricket Australia and the ICC take a zero-tolerance approach against anyone trying to compromise the integrity of the game.

"Neither the ICC or Cricket Australia is aware of any credible evidence linking Australian players to corruption in the game," Sutherland said in a statement.

The documentary is the same one that claimed pitches were doctored to achieve desired results at Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka.

Australia were heavily beaten by 229 runs inside three days in 2016 at the coastal ground.

It's understood Cricket Australia had contacted players last week to alert them of the allegations.

England hit back strongly against suggestions of involvement as Sri Lanka Cricket has promised the "fullest co-operation" with the ICC.

A report in the UK's Daily Telegraph, based on footage shown in the documentary on Al Jazeera, alleged a groundsman had told an undercover reporter he could prepare pitches which would prevent a game ending in a draw.

It was suggested England's first test against Sri Lanka in Galle in November could be manipulated in such a way, allowing anyone involved to back against the draw and therefore profit.

The England and Wales Cricket board said it supported the ICC's investigation into the matter, and SLC said it would take immediate action against anyone found to be involved.

"Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will extend its fullest co-operation to the International Cricket Council to investigate the latest allegations levelled via media reports, over match fixing," a statement read.

"Mr Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, is in contact with the CEO of the International Cricket Council, Mr David Richardson, and the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit on the matter. Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to state that it has zero tolerance towards corruption and will take immediate action against any person involved in the alleged incident, if found guilty.

"In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket is constantly engaged with the ICC and is following its guidelines on how to handle anti-corruption operations for the forthcoming tours in Sri Lanka."

Joe Root, the England captain, described the allegations as "outrageous" and said that the England players have been told by ECB officials that they have "nothing to worry" about.

"I've been aware there is a documentary going out. All the players have been briefed by the ECB and been told there's absolutely nothing to worry about," Root said in London after England had lost the opening test to Pakistan.

"I've just been told to strongly deny the accusations because it sounds quite ridiculous really," he said. "As a group of players we've got to focus on next week, making sure we prepare well and let the people in charge look after this because I am sure it is nothing".

Tom Harrison, the chief executive of the ECB, told The Times the players have the board's full support.

"There is nothing we have seen that would make us doubt any of our players in any way whatsoever," he said in a statement. "The limited information we have been given has been discussed with all the England players. They emphatically deny the allegations, have stated categorically that the claims are false and they have our full support. Neither the ECB nor the ICC is aware of any credible evidence connecting any England players to any form of corruption."

An ICC statement said: "We have been in ongoing dialogue with the broadcaster which has refused our continual requests to cooperate and share information which has hampered our investigation to date. The content of the programme, is of course useful to the investigation, but I would now urge the production team to provide us with all un-edited and unseen evidence they are in possession of, to enable us to expedite a thorough investigation."