Pakistan sends more shockwaves, ICC launches probe

LONDON/KARACHI: Pakistan cricket team sent more shockwaves to world cricket after it was disclosed today that the scoring patterns in its innings during Friday's ODI match against England were fixed, prompting the ICC to launch an immediate probe.

The ICC action followed diclosures by British tabloid 'The Sun' that an individual in the Pakistani team camp is believed to be the ringleader who was taking money from bookies in India and Dubai and ensuring their orders were carried out.

"The Sun is withholding details of the alleged fix while the investigation continues - but we can reveal that horrified ICC chiefs launched their investigation before the Pakistan innings had even finished.

"The probe centers on an individual within the team camp who is believed to be the ringleader, taking money from bookies and ensuring their orders are carried out," the paper said.

The paper reported that bookies knew details of Pakistan's innings before the match even began and it had given the evidence to the game's governing body ahead of the game.

Immediately after the news came out, the ICC said in a statement that the investigation is warranted as information about a certain scoring pattern appeared to be "correct".

"The ICC has launched an investigation into activities that took place during the third One-Day International between England and Pakistan at The Oval, London, on September 17," the governing body said.

"Following information received by the ICC from a British newspaper and its source, the ICC now believes a full investigation is warranted," it added.

Pakistan won the match by 23 runs to keep their hopes alive in the five-match series after losing the first two games.

According to the newspaper, the scoring patterns of the game matched with the "target that bookies had been told in advance by a fixer."

"Illegal bookies in India and Dubai apparently knew in advance what would happen so they could launch a betting coup. But The Sun's undercover team was able to pass details to ICC inspectors before the match began," the report said.