Just a few years after cricket was demoralized by incidents of match-fixing, a news channel revealed that international umpires were willing to fix matches for money in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup and the Sri Lanka Premier League in August.
India TV on Monday exposed the footage of its sting operation by undercover reporters who exposed six international-level umpires from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh of their willingness to give wrong decisions for money. The umpires involved are Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui of Pakistan, Nadir Shah of Bangladesh, and Gamini Dissanayake, Maurice Winston and Sagara Gallage of Sri Lanka.
Details of Umpires Caught in Match-Fixing Sting Operation by India TV:
Sagara Gallage: The 47-year-old elite panel umpire from Sri Lanka, who has officiated in four ODIs and two test matches as fourth umpire, was willing to fix Indo-Pak T20 World Cup game and Sri Lanka Premier League matches for money. He was "ready to give not out as out and out as not out in any format of the game on our demand," reported India TV.
Maurice Winston Dela Zilwa: The 49-year-old Sri Lankan, who has been umpiring for the last 13 years, was ready to fix any format of the game and reportedly gave vital information of the T20 world cup game between England and Australia, revealed the sting operation.
Anis Siddiqui: He is a Pakistani umpire who has officiated four ODIs as fourth umpire. He was ready to fix any format of the game. According to India TV, he "agreed on all their terms and conditions whether it's payment through black money or favouring our players on the field."
Gamini Dissanayake: He is a Sri Lankan umpire and has officiated three test matches as reserve umpire and regularly features as fourth umpire in ODIs and test matches. He was ready to fix any format of the game.
Nadeem Ghauri: He is a Pakistan umpire who has officiated 43 ODIs, 14 test matches and four T20 matches. He is "ready to give out as not out and not out as out and to fix any format of the game."
Nadir Shah: He is an ICC International panel Umpire from Bangladesh and has officiated in over 40 ODIs and six test matches as TV umpire. According to the news channel, he was "ready to give decision of out to not out, not out to out in any format of the game" as demanded by the channel.
Following the reports of international umpires allegedly willing to take bribes, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched a probe into the match-fixing allegation.
"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 ICC's urgent investigations into this matter," Associated Press quoted a statement from the ICC. "The ICC re-iterates its zero-tolerance toward corruption whether alleged against players or officials."
Bangladesh Cricket Board President, Mustafa Kamal, also said that the board will investigate the matter.
"I came to know about it (India TV sting) from the media. So, I am not in a position to make any comment. But if it (the allegations) is true, we will definitely investigate into it. But we have to wait until and unless we have the full details," Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, Pakistani umpire Nadeem Ghauri and Bangladesh umpire Nadir Shah have denied the reports that they agreed to alter matches for money.
