ICC acts quickly to end match-fixing speculation

Malcolm Speed: 'It is important to make it clear that there is no investigation being undertaken into this series' © Getty Images

Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive, has denied media speculation that its Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating incidents during the recent Videocon Cup one-day series between Zimbabwe, India and New Zealand, labelling them "totally inaccurate and without foundation.

"We do not normally comment on the operational activities of the ACU, but in light of the volume of utterly unfounded reports relating to the recent tri-series in Zimbabwe it is important to make it clear that there is no investigation being undertaken into this series," Speed said. "It is disappointing to see such wild and unfounded accusations circulating in the media and we have taken the unusual step of commenting on this speculation as we do not wish the reputation of the sport, the teams or the players to be tarnished by utterly inaccurate media reports."

The ICC never usually comments on the ongoing operations of the ACU, but the widespread media coverage of the allegations forced it to speak out.

Earlier, Daniel Vettori had rubbished allegations that there was anything untoward about New Zealand's recent win in the series. An Indian newspaper had reported that the ICC had deployed two members of the anti-corruption unit to look into allegations of match-fixing in the tournament.

"That's the first I've heard of it, it's news to me and I'd imagine it's news to the team as well," Vettori told the New Zealand Press Association. "It seems to always follow us around when we win something."

Vettori was the lynchpin of New Zealand's victory in the final, taking 2 for 34 in a tidy 10-over spell mid-innings that put the brakes on India. A fine opening stand between Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming then sealed the issue for New Zealand.

"But we're pretty comfortable with how the game went, how we played it and how they played it -- 280's not a bad score in a final," said Vettori. When asked whether he or any of his team-mates was approached by bookmakers or suspicious characters during the series he said, "Nothing at all, there's nothing gone on to my knowledge."

New Zealand Cricket was quick to back its players. "All we have seen regarding speculation surrounding the series is reports from Indian newspapers," Martin Snedden, the chief executive, said. "I have very strong trust in the integrity of our players and am more than confident there is no basis to any suggestions they were involved."