The ICC has launched an "urgent investigation" following allegations by an Indian television station that several umpires were willing to fix matches for money. The ICC said none of the six named officiated in any official matches at the World Twenty20 which finished Sunday, says a report in Hindustan Times.
"The ICC and its relevant members have been made aware of the allegations made by India TV this evening and calls on the station to turn over any information which can assist the ICC's urgent investigations into this matter," the ICC said in a statement. "The ICC re-iterates its zero-tolerance toward corruption whether alleged against players or officials."
India TV identified the umpires in the sting and said three of them agreed to give favourable decisions, including in warm-up matches for the World Twenty20. Another was filmed in the sting called "Operation World Cup" - promising to "revolt" - against Sri Lankan cricket, and the fifth official was willing to ensure decisions would be given in favour of India. It is not clear what tournament or matches the two umpires were referring to.
Meanwhile the BCCI on Tuesday said that it would wait for the ICC to complete its investigations on the television sting operation on umpires who were allegedly willing to fix T20 matches for money, says a report in The DNA.
A day after India TV beamed its programme purportedly showing the umpires willing to fix matches, the BCCI said that since no Indian umpire was involved it would wait for the probe to be completed. "The ICC has to take a call on it. They (ICC) will be taking appropriate action. As far as we are concerned we will take action as we deem fit. Our job is to keep the game clean. The BCCI takes strong and immediate action whenever such cases come up," senior BCCI official Rajeev Shukla said.
According to a report in The Times Of India, no Indian umpire was implicated in Monday's TV sting on umpiring transgressions, but that may be no reason to feel satisfied. Several local umpires have told TOI that they are often asked to favour particular teams or players during tournaments in Delhi and at state-level age-group events and trials.
Allegations targeting umpires have been made in local circles for years. However, it is such a sensitive matter that officials in the know within the Delhi and District Cricket Association are not willing to go on record.
A Board of Control for Cricket in India level-1 umpire told TOI, "Big local tournaments are often fixed through umpires. Results are sometimes manipulated in well-known events which have cash prizes running into lakhs for the winner and runners-up."