Reports of suspicious Ashes betting

Cricket chiefs are looking into a betting allegation concerning the Ashes series ahead of tomorrow's crunch final Test. The sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has received a report from the Australia team making a claim of suspicious bookmaking activity during the current series. According to website Cricinfo, an Australian player was approached by a man suspected to be linked to illegal bookmaking at the team's hotel, following their defeat by England in the second Test at Lord's last month. The unidentified player is said to have alerted senior team officials immediately, who contacted the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit. The ACSU was set up in 2000 in the wake of match-fixing allegations and revelations about South Africa captain Hansie Cronje and the captains of India and Pakistan, Mohammed Azharuddin and Salim Malik, who were all subsequently banned for life. England take on Australia at The Oval in the winner-takes-all clash which starts tomorrow. The sides are level at 1-1, with England needing to win to claim back the historic urn.

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ITN | August 19, 2009

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