My News
29.04.10
Herald Sun - Shane Warne sure no Australians involved in IPL fixing
Jon Anderson, From: Herald Sun April 28, 2010 12:00AM
SHANE Warne last night strongly denied reports that he or any other Australians were involved in alleged match-fixing in the Indian Premier League.
Warne, captain-coach of the Rajasthan Royals, learnt of the latest allegations that an Australian was involved after they were aired in a London newspaper.
Warne said he was not completely surprised by the controversy, but was shocked his name had been thrown around without any substantiation.
Twenty-seven players, including "a famous Australian", were alleged to be under investigation by tax officials after the latest match-fixing claims.
Indian tax officials said no IPL players - and no Australians - were being investigated.
"In the time I have played in the IPL, I have never been approached or heard anything at the Royals regarding match-fixing," Warne said.
"Although, weird things can sometimes happen in Twenty20 cricket. That's the nature of the game. I do know this: To fix a Twenty20, you would have to have the captain, otherwise you just couldn't do it.
"I said to a couple of friends I am comfortable because I am not involved in this IPL controversy in any way, shape or form.
"Any players involved in this controversy, if found guilty, should be banned for life.
"I have total confidence that no Australian is involved. It's good to hear that the authorities have come out and said that no Australian is under investigation."
The match-fixing allegations have come with an investigation into corruption and tax evasion against IPL architect Lalit Modi.
Warne admitted to disappointment that a man he admired was the central figure in the investigation.
"Modi's vision has been fantastic and he should take all the credit for the IPL, which is very much his baby," Warne said.
"But in the IPL everything must be transparent so there can't be any innuendo."
Allegations of match-fixing have swept the cricketing world in the past few months and rumours of underworld involvement in the IPL are intensifying by the day. It has been estimated cricket betting in India has increased by more than 20 per cent since the IPL was launched three years ago.
The rival and now-defunct Indian Cricket League was reportedly a haven for match-fixing and it has been alleged that New Zealander Chris Cairns was sacked from that league because of match-fixing concerns. Cairns has strongly denied any involvement in match-fixing.
Betting on cricket is illegal in India, but private bookmaking firms do a roaring trade betting on everything from who will take the new ball to whether a nominated over will feature a wide or a six.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the outing of South African captain Hansie Cronje as a match-fixer.
Soon after Cronje's dramatic admission, the International Cricket Council formed an anti-corruption unit, but it has failed to make a significant imprint on the world of illegal gambling.
Without police powers, it has lacked the authority to demand co-operation from bookmakers and punters over whom it has no jurisdiction.
- with Robert Craddock
You must be logged in to post a comment. Click here to log in.
Comments
Racin JasonTV