ECB confirms Blue Square deal under discussion

Contrary to recent reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed that no deal has been agreed with internet bookmakers Blue Square but says discussions are ongoing.

A newspaper article reported at the weekend that ECB had signed a deal with Blue Square, in which bets would be taken online on the official ECB website.

No such deal has been concluded, a spokesman for the Board stressed though the two organisations were having talks, developing a relationship that started last summer when Blue Square advertised heavily on ECB's perimeter boards at all the Test match grounds.

"There are betting tents at all the major Test match grounds during the summer in England and the only restrictions that apply are to officials and players - there's nothing which says a cricket fan cannot have a bet," said an ECB spokesman.

Reports suggest that the deal would raise new revenue for cricket, with Blue Square committing £10 for every new punter placing a bet on a Test match and another £10 for every customer placing a further 10 bets.