Condon to investigate sex claims

13 April 2012

The Australian Cricket Board said today it was "disturbed" by claims from a former Pakistan player that an Australian bookmaker used prostitutes to help persuade foreign players to under-perform in matches.

Qasim Omar alleged in a newspaper yesterday that prominent players, including national team captains, had sex with 23 prostitutes in Sydney hotels as part of crooked deals.

ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed said the allegations related to the period of 1984 to 1987 and did not involve Australian players or officials.

He commented: "The International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit has confirmed to the ACB that this investigation is focusing on foreign players and officials. Two members of the unit have confirmed no current or former Australian players or official is under investigation."

Speed said the ICC Unit, led by former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Sir Paul Condon, will seek to interview the prostitutes next month. The ICC have their quarterly meeting in Melbourne next month.

Speed also said the most disturbing aspect of the claims was the suggestion an Australian bookmaker was involved, adding: "Clearly the ACB would be very interested to know if this person exists.

"If he does and he is still working as a bookmaker we want to be able to ensure he no longer has anything to do with the game. I don't think the public should in any way feel that cricket's reputation is damaged by this."

In a separate inquiry, current Australian batsman Mark Waugh has been asked to speak with investigators as part of a worldwide investigation into match-fixing.

The ACB said their own independent investigator, Greg Melick, also wanted to question Waugh on allegations he took money from an illegal Indian bookmaker. He has denied the allegations and agreed to co-operate with the inquiry.

England forced India to follow on, but they then let the home side off the hook on day three of the Second Under-19 Test in Chennai.

The tourists were out for 399 in their first spell, but they then skittled India for 239. That gave England the upper hand, until Gautam Gambhir (121) and Vinayak Mane (115) took India to 241 for nought to earn a lead of 73 by close of play.

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by an innings and seven runs on the third day of the Third and final Test today to win the series 2-0. Sri Lanka were all out for 252 in their second innings.

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