ICC slams 'inaccurate' cricket match-fixing reports

The International Cricket Council has slammed "utterly inaccurate" media reports of alleged match fixing during the Zimbabwe tri-series won by New Zealand this month.

The Times of India website yesterday reported the ICC had deployed two of its officials to India to investigate the allegations.

The ICC today released a terse statement rejecting the report.

"We do not normally comment on the operational activities of the ICC anti-corruption and security unit but in light of the volume of utterly unfounded reports relating to the recent tri-series in Zimbabwe it is important to make it clear that there is no investigation being undertaken into this series," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

"It is disappointing to see such wild and unfounded accusations circulating in the media and we have taken the unusual step of commenting on this speculation as we do not wish the reputation of the sport, the teams or the players to be tarnished by utterly inaccurate media reports."

The statement said the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit frequently travelled to all ICC full member countries.

Travel plans to visit these countries, including India, were already in place.

"No details of these travel plans are publicly circulated and no comment will be made on the nature of the ICC ACSU's operations in these member countries."

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said yesterday he had "strong trust" the players were not involved in match-fixing allegations.

New Zealand vice-captain Daniel Vettori was adamant there was nothing untoward about last week's final in Harare, when New Zealand overhauled India's imposing total of 276 to win by six wickets.

"That's the first I've heard of it, it's news to me and I'd imagine it's news to the team as well," Vettori said.

The Times of India reported Martin Hawkins and Alan Peacock, part of the ICC's anti-corruption unit, were in New Delhi.

A source told the paper that the names of cricketers from all three countries featured in the discussions.

- NZPA