Odumbe's lawyer lambasts ICC

Maurice Odumbe's lawyer has launched an attack at the ICC for violating the rules of justice, and said that the organisation displayed double standards in matchfixing cases. Odumbe has been accused of having dealings with a bookmaker, allegations that have been repeatedly denied by Odumbe and his lawyer, Ishan Kapila.

Kapila said that though Odumbe admitted to dealings with an Indian businessman, he was unaware that the man was also a bookmaker. According to a report on the BBC website, Kapila said: "The offence of inappropriate conduct against Odumbe is vaguely worded. Although Odumbe had admitted his dealings with Indian businessman Jagdish Sodhi, whom he did not know was a bookmaker, he had not taken money to throw away matches."

Odumbe is alleged to have received payments from at least one Mumbai bookmaker in 2002, so that he could coerce his team-mates into underperforming in matches. If found guilty, Odumbe - who has been the face of Kenyan cricket, along with Steve Tikolo, since that astonishing win over West Indies in the 1996 World Cup - faces a life ban. A formal hearing will start in Nairobi on July 27, and is expected to last five days. Both Odumbe and the ICC will have the opportunity to put forward their case, and call witnesses.

Kapila compared Odumbe's case to others in the past, and said that the ICC had dealt with his client's case differently, even though there was little evidence to support the charge. "There is discrepancy in the attitude they have taken against a lesser-known player when top cricketers, who had open dealings with well-known bookmakers, have not been charged with any offence. The rules of justice have been violated."