The England and Wales Cricket board says it supports the International Cricket Council’s stance on match-fixing after reports that a future England Test in Sri Lanka may be targeted.
A report in The Telegraph claimed a forthcoming Al Jazeera documentary shows a groundsman telling undercover reporters that the outcome of England’s Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, starting in November, can be influenced.
It alleges that the pitch can be doctored so that a draw is impossible, meaning anyone involved in such a scheme would back against that outcome. There is no suggestion that any players would be involved.
Alex Marshall from the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit was quoted as saying: “As you would expect, we will take the contents of the programme and any allegations it may make very seriously.”
And the ECB supported that, telling the Press Association: “The ECB are aware of the planned Al Jazeera documentary, though not the full content. We endorse the ICC’s position and fully support their work and investigations.”
The first Test between Sri Lanka and England in Galle will start on November 6.
In 2016, Jayananda Warnaweera – former chief curator of the Galle Stadium – was suspended for three years by the ICC for failing to cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Unit.
