TV sting operation clean bowls umpires on match-fixing

After players, umpires. A sting operation by a news channel has revealed that umpires were willing to be bribed during the recently-concluded World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Premier League in August.

India TV, which had earlier conducted a sting operation on corruption in India’s domestic circuit, has come up with footage showing six umpires from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka willing to give wrong decisions. The umpires are Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui of Pakistan, Nadir Shah of Bangladesh, and Gamini Dissanayake, Maurice Winston and Sagara Gallage of Lanka.

The ICC has taken cognisance of the sting. “The ICC and its relevant members have been made aware of the allegations made by India TV and calls on the station to turnover any information which can assist investigations,” a statement said.

“The ICC reiterates its zero-tolerance towards corruption whether alleged against players or officials. The ICC confirms that none of the umpires named were involved in any of the official games of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.” —With agency inputs
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