ICC promises prompt action over fixing allegations

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised to take prompt and decisive action against any Pakistan player found guilty of fixing or manipulating matches.



The ICC says its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is investigating newspaper allegations that fixing is endemic in Pakistan matches up to and including their current tour of England.



ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat says the integrity of the game is of paramount importance and prompt and decisive action will be taken against those who seek to harm it.



Pakistan cricket is in crisis after British police started investigating allegations by a British tabloid that two of their players deliberately bowled no-balls against England last week in exchange for money.



Individuals in illegal betting hubs allegedly have that information passed on to them so they can bet on a sure thing.



There is no suggestion that the players' actions affected the scale of Pakistan's defeat, their heaviest in 58 years of test cricket and any player found guilty of colluding with bookmakers to manipulate the result could be banned for life.



Pakistan lost the series 3-1 after going down by an innings and 225 runs yesterday.