Undercover investigation exposes plot to fix England v/s Sri Lanka Galle test

A plot to fix an England v/s Sri Lanka cricket test match has been exposed by an undercover investigation. According to the The Australian, match fixers have been caught discussing plans to rig England's first test on their tour of Sri Lanka. 

An undercover journalist, posing as a businessman looking to place bets on the match, filmed a match fixer and the groundsman of the stadium in Galle agreeing to help alter the outcome. The documentary will be aired by news organisation Al Jazeera on Sunday.

According to reports, the investigation made use of hidden cameras to unveil how alleged match-fixer Robin Morris, a former professional cricketer from Mumbai, Dubai-based Indian businessman Gaurav Rajkumar and the Galle stadium assistant manager, Tharanga Indika, how the fix was arranged and how the pitch was prepared unlawfully. Tharindu Mendis, a Sri Lankan first-class player, was also filmed in one of the clips.

Asked if he could fix the surface so a draw would be impossible, Indika replies: "Yes, I can. I can confirm it in advance one week before."

Morris says Indika had already doctored the wicket for the most recent test played at Galle last July, between Sri Lanka and India, in which India scored 610 runs in their first innings, according to the reports.

The Australian reports the documentary will air allegations that the pitch used for the 2016 Test at Galle, where Australia were bowled out for 106 and 183 to lose by 229 runs, was doctored. 

In that Test, 18 Australian wickets fell to spin bowling as the tourists failed to bat more than 85 overs across both innings. 

he International Cricket Council has launched an investigation into the allegations. 

"The ICC is aware of an investigation into corruption in cricket by a news organisation and as you would expect we will take the contents of the programme and any allegations it may make very seriously," the governing body said in a statement on its website.

"We have already launched an investigation working with anti-corruption colleagues from Member countries based on the limited information we have received. We have made repeated requests that all evidence and supporting materials relating to corruption in cricket is released immediately to enable us to undertake a full and comprehensive investigation."

The newspaper reported on Saturday the documentary will allege spot-fixers bribed the groundsman at Galle to doctor the pitch used for the 2016 second test between hosts Sri Lanka and Australia.

The touring side were bowled out for 106 and 183 in the match and lost by 229 runs in less than three days.

Last year's test between Sri Lanka and India at Galle was also under suspicion, while match-fixers have also targeted England's test at the same venue in November, according to The Australian.
Sri Lanka Cricket said they would issue a statement later.

Match-fixing has become a major concern for the sport in recent years with a high-profile incident involving Pakistan on a previous tour to England forming one of cricket's low points.

Pakistani trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who is back playing for the national team, were part of a gambling-inspired plot to bowl no-balls at pre-arranged times during a test match against England at Lord's in August 2010.

All three players served time in prison and were handed multi-year bans from the game after a ICC tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing.