Three England, two Australia test cricketers spot-fixed matches against India, claims documentary on match-fixing

Three England and two Australian players were involved in match fixing in two test matches played in India, claimed a documentary titled ‘Cricket’s Match-Fixers’. 

The documentary aired on Al Jazeera makes the claim that three test matches, India v/s England Test played in Chennai (December 16-20), the India v/s Australia Test in Ranchi (March 16-20, 2017) and the Galle Test between India and Sri Lanka (July 26-29, 2017) were influenced by bookmakers. 

It claimed that particular sessions in the Ranchi and Chennai test matches were ‘scripted’ by players in collusion with match fixers. 

An alleged match-fixer belonging to Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company was filmed on camera naming two Australian players and three England players for colluding with them to fix sessions. 

Al Jazeera did not reveal the name of the players at this time for legal reasons. However, ICC has been informed and given the footage for investigation by the channel.

The documentary said that the Australian players have not reacted to the issue at all, whereas the England cricketers have denied these claims through their lawyers. 

Cricket Australia condemned the allegations, saying the unnamed criminals’ claims were “not credible”.

Documenatary also showed that some other match-fixers claimed they had corrupted a groundsman in Sri Lanka to doctor the Galle pitch in Sri Lanka's matches against Australia and India.

Meanwhile, the ICC announced it would be conducting an investigation following the documentary’s release.

It said that it took the allegations reported in an Al Jazeera documentary “very seriously” and urged “all evidence and supporting material” to be shared with the investigators.