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Umpires agreed to fix matches, claims India sting

October 9, 2012

ICC_World_t20

Mumbai, October 9: Every once in a while, with depressing frequency, the cricket world is jolted by allegations of match-fixing. But so far, these had only involved players.

On Monday, though, private news channel unveiled a sting operation, conducted in July and August, which seems to reveal that umpires, who are supposed to protect the laws of the game, may themselves be up for sale.

The channel's sting allegedly caught six umpires from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on camera 'agreeing' to give decisions on demand.

The umpires named in the sting operation are Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui of Pakistan, Nadir Shah of Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka's Gamini Dissanayake, Maurice Winston and Sagara Gallage.



TOI could not independently ascertain the veracity of the channel's claims. Ghauri and Shah have already denied the allegations, with Shah terming them "absolutely rubbish".

The International Cricket Council has launched an investigation into the allegations made by the channel.

The ICC, in a release on Monday, said, "The ICC and its relevant members have been made aware of the allegations made by the news channel this evening and calls on the station to turnover any information which can assist the ICC's urgent investigations into this matter.

The ICC re-iterates its zero-tolerance towards corruption whether alleged against players or officials. The ICC confirms that none of the umpires named were involved in any of the official games of the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. The ICC will not make any further comment on this issue."

In the sting operation, the reporters said they belonged to a sports management company and promised the umpires assignments in different events around the world, largely domestic Twenty20 leagues.

While Ghauri and Shah appeared to agree to give wrong decisions, Gallage was ready to pass on information about the toss, the pitch and weather conditions in a match before it was available to the public.

In May, the same television channel's sting operation prompted the Indian cricket board to ban one uncapped cricketer for life and hand out lesser punishments to four others for involvement in corruption in domestic cricket.


Last year, Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain following a sting operation for their role in a spot-fixing scandal relating to a test match against England at Lord's in August 2010.

Amongst the officials caught in the operation, only Shah and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid represent the current panel of the ICC. The channel, however, claimed that Sharfudoullah refused to give any favours.

The expose seemed to show Sri Lankan umpire Gallage agreeing to leak information on the pitch, weather, toss, and even the playing elevens of India and Pakistan ahead of their World T20 warm-up match for Rs 50,000.

Gallage, who was the fourth umpire in the game, went to the extent of guaranteeing support for a 'particular player' in case of any disciplinary action, the footage showed.

He also promised not to dock the player of his match fee should he be pulled up for slow over-rate. Dissanayake was shown as claiming that "by providing liquor to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials, one can get any work done."

A stunned SLC chairman Nishantha Ranatunga told TOI that the board would take action as soon as the ICC probe into the matter was over. "The SLC has zero tolerance level against doping and corrupt activities.

We are waiting for the ICC to launch an investigation into this and once the probe is over, we'll take necessary action. Having said that, we have the highest confidence in our match officials," Ranatunga said.

Ghauri, a former ICC umpire from Pakistan, appeared to promise to 'do anything' for a payment. Ghauri has officiated in 43 ODIs and 14 Tests and his last international game came in November 2010.

The channel claimed Ghauri's countryman Siddiqui also was ready to get a decision in favour of India for money. 'Anees promised that he would manage the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to accept a decision favourable to India,' the channel said.

Officials from the cricket boards of Bangladesh and Pakistan could not be reached for comment.

The dialogue between the umpires and the reporters

NADEEM GHAURI

Reporter: Achha achha maan lijiye jaise LBW hai (OK, take for example, LBW)

Nadeem: Haan ji (Yes)

R: Leg before wicket

N: Haan (Yes)

R: Isme, uska khiladi ka favour ho sakta hai? (Here, can that player be favoured?)

N: Haan, bilkul bilkul. (Yes, certainly, certainly)

R: To yeh favour kar denge aap? (So, will you carry out this favour?)

N: Haan, bilkul yeh ho sakta hai. (Yes, this can certainly be done.)

R: Haan toh isi tareeke ke, jaise maan lijiye bahut close nick hota hai bat se, caught behind the wicket hota hai. (So, in the same fashion, imagine a very close nick. It can be a caught behind)

N: Haan yeh bhi theek hai, kyonki wahaan jakar jo meeting hoti hai usme yeh dekhna padega ki Snickometer toh nahi hai ya Hawkeye to nahi hai. (Yes, this is also OK, because there is a meeting to ascertain whether it is a Snickometer or Hawkeye)

NADIR SHAH

Reporter: Sir, fixing toh BPL mein bhi bahut hua hai. (Sir, there has also been a lot of fixing in the BPL)

Nadir: Haan hua, do aadmi ko pakda. Kaun kiya fixing maloom hai, woh naam bataya Jamshed, woh left handed opener. (Yes, there was. They even caught two men. We know who carried out the fixing. Jamshed, that left-handed opener.)

R: Jamshed?

N: Woh teen run-out kar diya, Jamshed jo India ka saath century kiya na. (The same one who did three run-outs, Jamshed scored a century against India, no?)

R: Nasir Jamshed, Pakistani opener?

N: Haan. (Yes.)

R: Lekin Pakistan ne usko ban kyon nahi kiya Nasir Jamshed ko? (But why didn't Pakistan ban him, that Nasir Jamshed?)

N: Pakistan ne nahi kiya because the information was later on didn't pass. (Pakistan did not because the information was not passed on.) They had the proof, they manage down the carpet. Because that will have a bad name on BPL and Bangladesh Cricket Board, which we cannot afford

R: Hamare player ko jo favour mil sakta hai SLPL mein aapse, woh kin kin cheezon mein mil sakta hai? (What are the kinds of favour our player can get from you during the SLPL?)

N: LBW

SAGARA GALLAGE

Sagara: Three things I can do it. I can do the pitch report at least one and a half before the start the match.

Reporter: OK! You can give me pitch report half an hour before the match start. You are talking about the SLPL final.

S: That's true, tomorrow.

R: OK! Tomorrow, Ya second

S: Second one is the team, playing eleven, before 35 minutes of the match start.

R: What about the third thing?

S: Third thing is toss. Who won the toss, who is fielding, who is batting. I will inform because we show in the TV at the last moment of the start of the match but I can tell you about 25 minutes before the start

A STRING OF STINGS

No. 1: Bangladesh umpire Nadir Shah told the India TV undercover reporter that he was ready to fix any match - whether international, county or league matches. Nadir Shah offered to give decisions like "out", "not out" in any format of the game. He has officiated in 40-plus one-day internationals, six test matches as TV umpire and three tests as reserve umpire. Nadir Shah also revealed on hidden camera that Pakistan's opening batsman Nasir Jamshed 'fixed' several matches during the Bangladesh Premier League. He also said, umpires from Bangladesh are always ready to 'help' their country's cricketers.

No. 2: Sri Lankan premier panel umpire Sagara Gallage was the fourth umpire at the crucial India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match on Sept 17. For a payment of Rs 50,000, Sagara agreed to reveal the match pitch report, weather report, toss report, and even the playing elevens of both teams. Gallage promised to give Pak batsman Imran Nazir out, even if he was not out, in exchange of money in Sri Lankan Premier League. Gallage even promised the undercover reporter to get a decision made in favour of India in course of the match by 'managing' the match referee and other officials.

No. 3: Pakistan's ICC international panel umpire Nadeem Ghauri also agreed to help Team India in all manners. As quid pro quo, he agreed to take all amounts underhand in "black". He promised to do any kind of favour for any player in umpiring.

No. 4: Sri Lankan's premier panel umpire Maurice Winston Dela Zilwa's name was recommended by another Sri Lankan umpire Sagara Gallage to the India TV undercover reporter. For the crucial T20 world cup match on Sept 17 between Australia and England, Maurice Winston shared the pitch report, toss report and playing elevens of both teams and demanded Rs 50,000 bribe. He agreed to take the entire amount in 'black'.

No. 5: Sri Lankan umpire Gamini Dissanayake went a step ahead. On camera, he promised to 'revolt' against Sri Lankan cricket if given a handsome amount. Gamini told the undercover India TV reporter that by providing liquor and picnic to Sri Lankan Cricket Board officials, one can get any work done. Gamini's name was mentioned by Maurice Winston.

No. 6: Pakistan's elite panel umpire Anees Siddiqui was also ready to get a decision in favour of Team India in lieu of money in black. Anees promised that he would manage the PCB to accept a decision favourable to India.

No. 7: Bangladesh ICC international panel umpire Sharfudoullah Ibne Shahid Saikat was also approached. He however refused to give any favour in exchange of money.

No. 8: Minhazuddin Khan, the media manager of Dhaka Gladiators revealed to India TV undercover reporter that Pakistan's player Azhar Mehmood had indulged in match-fixing during the Sri Lankan Premier League. He didn't come to play. Minhaz also revealed that Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved and Ahmed Shahzad regularly used to take call girls to their rooms straight from aftermatch parties. Minhaz also revealed that he and Bangladesh opened Tamil Iqbal often used to go to Dubai and Malaysia for holidays, and used to get money from Bangladesh through 'hawala'.

No. 9: Sandeep Bhammer, the promoter of Sri Lankan Premier League agreed to give sponsorships of all franchises in lieu of US$7,40,000.



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News Network
February 24,2020

Feb 24: India captain Virat Kohli had no qualms in admitting that his team was outplayed by New Zealand in the opening Test but said they "can't help" if a few want to make a "big deal" out of the 10-wicket defeat. Hosts New Zealand thrashed India by 10 wickets at the Basin Reverse on Monday to go 1-0 ahead in the two-match series. This was India's first defeat in the World Test Championship, coming after two inept batting efforts. "We know we haven't played well but if people want to make a big deal out of it, make a mountain out of it, we can't help it as we don't think like that," the skipper said at the post-match media interaction.

Kohli said he fails to comprehend why one Test match defeat should be made to look like the end of the world for his team.

"For some people, it might be the end of the world but it's not. For us, it's a game of cricket that we lost and we move on and keep our heads high," Kohli said.

It is the acceptance of defeat that defines the character of a side, the world's premier batsman said.

"We understand that we need to play well to win, also at home. There's no cakewalk at international level as teams will come and beat you. You accept it and that defines our character as a side."

It is the acceptance of defeat that defines the character of a side, the world's premier batsman said. "We understand that we need to play well to win, also at home. There's no cakewalk at international level as teams will come and beat you. You accept it and that defines our character as a side."

If he had given credence to the "outside chatter", he said the team wouldn't have been where it is now.

"That's why we have been able to play this kind of cricket. If we would have paid attention to the outside chatter, we would again be at No. 7 or 8 in the rankings. We don't really bother about what people are saying on the outside," the skipper said.

One defeat can't make a team, which has been winning games of Test cricket, "bad overnight".

"If we have lost then we have no shame in accepting that. It means we didn't play this game well. It doesn't mean that we have become a bad team overnight. People might want to change our thoughts, but it doesn't work like that."

The self-belief is intact and Kohli was confident the team would come back stronger in the second Test, to be held in Christchurch in four days time.

"We will work hard, and after four days play just like we have played all these years. Just because we have lost one match in between all wins, doesn't mean that the belief is gone. The dressing room thinks differently and team atmosphere is different."

Kohli felt that there is a very thin line between being ultra-defensive and over-attacking, something that his team didn't get it right in this Test match.

"New Zealand got into the mind of the batsmen and make the batsmen do something that they don't want to. think that's a very thin line and a very delicate balance of when to attack and when to put bowlers under pressure which we failed to do in this match and there is no harm in accepting that."

According to Kohli, it was a combination of both good bowling from the Kiwis and Indian batsmen not putting the pressure back on bowlers, which led to the drubbing.

"That has got to do with partly good bowling from New Zealand and partly us not pressing that momentum on to them when required. "It was perfect for them because they bowled well and we allowed them to bowl well for longer periods rather than doing something about it in a partnership."

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News Network
February 11,2020

Dubai, Feb 11: Two Indian players-- Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi -- and three Bangladeshis have been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for involvement in the quarrel just after the U-19 cricket World Cup summit clash in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Sunday.

Akash and Bishnoi and three Bangladeshi players -- Md. Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan -- were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after a few players from both sides nearly came to blows after Bangladesh beat India by three wickets to win their maiden U-19 World Cup title.

"Five players have been found guilty of a Level 3 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Support Personnel ... (they) were charged with violating Article 2.21 of the code, whilst Bishnoi received a further charge of breaching Article 2.5," the ICC said in a statement.

"All five players have accepted the sanctions proposed by ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Match Referee Graeme Labrooy," it added.

A near brawl broke out after Bangladesh’s historic win over India in the final. The Bangladesh players were aggressive during the Indian innings with lead pacer Shoriful Islam frequently sledging the Indian batsmen.

As soon as the match ended, Bangladeshi players rushed into the playing area.

"India's Akash accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years," the ICC said.

Compatriot Bishnoi accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of five suspension points, which equates to five demerit points.

"Bishnoi also accepted a level 1 charge of breaching Article 2.5 for a separate incident during the match, where he used language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following the dismissal of Avishek Das in the 23rd over," said the ICC.

"For this he received a further two demerit points meaning seven demerit points will remain on his record for the next two years."

Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of ten suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

Shamim Hossain accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

Rakibul Hasan accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of four suspension points, which equates to five demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

All charges were levelled by on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Adrian Holdstock, third umpire Ravindra Wimalasiri as well as fourth umpire Patrick Bongni Jele. Level 3 breaches carry a minimum penalty of four suspension points and a maximum penalty of 12 suspension points.

The suspension points will be applied to the forthcoming international matches the players are most likely to participate in at either senior or U-19 level. One suspension point equals a player being ineligible for one ODI or T20I, U-19 or A team international match.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

New Delhi, Jul 28: 'Your character stood out for me than the number of runs you scored," said India skipper Virat Kohli while explaining his decision to give opening Mayank Agarwal a Test debut in the 2018-19 Australia series.

Mayank Agarwal had made his Test debut against Australia in the third Test of the four-match series.

Playing the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Agarwal managed to register a half-century in his very first innings in the longest format.

"I had seen you play for RCB, even then you played international bowlers with conviction and you would take them on. You were performing in first-class matches in a dominating way. That is something always stood out with you, I would say your character stood out for me than the number of runs. I knew you would be fearless without having any baggage," Kohli told Mayank Agarwal in a video posted on the official website of BCCI.

In the longest format of the game, Agarwal has managed to score 974 runs from 11 matches at an average of 57.29 with three centuries as an opening batsman.

The Indian skipper also explained as to what makes him notice in a player and added that it is important that guys in the team look to face new challenges and emerge triumphantly.

"For me, the biggest marker is how a person approaches the game, so for example when you opened and we made Vihari open with you. The first opportunity we presented Vihari to open the batting, he said yes to it and that matters me to the most," Kohli said.

"I opened in my first series for India, I said yes to this opportunity and things worked out fine for me. So, a guy who wants to get into tough situations will come out either holding his head high or learning from his mistakes," he added.

Kohli and Mayank would soon be seen in action for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab respectively in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting from September 19 in the UAE.

The comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar keep on growing and many have picked the current Indian skipper to break the records set by Tendulkar.

Tendulkar called time on his career after registering 100 international centuries, while Kohli currently has 70 centuries across all formats.

At present, Kohli is ranked at the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings while he is in the second place in Tests rankings. Kohli has so far played 86 Tests, scoring 7,240 runs with 27 centuries at an average of 53.62.

His knock of 254 against South Africa at Pune in 2019 remains his highest Test score to date. When it comes to ODIs, the current Indian skipper has played 248 matches and has 43 centuries.

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