Ehsan Mani wants ICC to investigate match-fixing claims by Hashan Tillakaratne
Former International Cricket Council’s (ICC) president, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ehsan-Mani-c55791, has expressed surprise over the world body’s silence regarding the match-fixing allegations brought in light by Sri Lanka’s former cricketer, Hashan Tillakaratne.
Mani while talking to media men said, “First of all, I am surprised with the ICC’s silence on the issue. Tillakaratne’s statement is serious and the ICC should react accordingly. It should clear its stance on such matters. Their silence will not serve in
its efforts to curb corruption.”
He argued that the world body should not remain mum on the issue and should take it head on because that is the only way the menace of match-fixing will be eradicated from the game.
He also favoured the proposal laid out by Pakistan’s former all-rounder, Imran Khan, who insists that the players and their bank accounts should be constantly watched over by the ICC to ensure there is no foul play in their earnings.
However, he pointed out that in 2000, some http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 players were caught engaged in match-fixing after which the world’s cricket governing body decided to keep tabs on the bank accounts of the suspected players but the players took the ICC to court for
violating human rights. The ICC was ordered by the court to stop monitoring the bank accounts of the players.
The former ICC president stressed that ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) should contact Hashan and take the investigation under their banner. According to Mani this is a great opportunity for the ACSU to finally get their hands on actual evidence
regarding match-fixing.
“If the ASCU has not contacted Tillakaratne yet, it should not delay in acquiring information from him. You never know from where you can get credible information that can help in controlling the menace,” said Mani.
Mani pointed out that cricket boards of member counties needed to educate their players regarding fixing to grab hold of the plight which seems to be spreading. He pointed out that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 landed itself in spot-fixing fiasco because the PCB had ended the
education programme of the players after the departure of their former PCB chief Tauqeer Zia.
Earlier, Tillakaratne, who has represented http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in 200 One Day Internationals and 83 Test matches, claimed that he knew the names of players from Sri Lanka who were involved in match-fixing. According to him, the Sri Lankans have been match-fixing since
1992.
Hashan’s revelations have received mixed reactions from the cricket fraternity in Sri Lanka. Most players such as Kumar Sangakkara and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Muttiah-Muralitharan-c78157 have asked the former cricketer to reveal the evidence regarding his claims otherwise there is a possibility
that he will be sued by someone.
Tillakaratne has pledged to disclose all the evidence in front of the ICC.
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