Put up or shut up: ICC to rumour mongers

The ICC has described as "highly inappropriate" the unsubstantiated allegations about match-fixing during the India-Pakistan one-day series. Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, has said that the speculation in the media around the current series between India and Pakistan needed to be supported by evidence if it was to be treated seriously.

"We have all seen the opinions of various people that have been aired in the media," said Speed, "and they all share a common theme - they are all long on speculation but short on evidence." The media has been agog over Pakistan's loss in the fourth match, where India recovered from 94 for 4 to overhaul Pakistan's 293 with five overs to spare.

"If these allegations are to be treated seriously," Speed said, "the people making these claims need to substantiate their claims or withdraw them. To attack the integrity of the game and the players taking part in this series without proof is entirely inappropriate, and does nothing to actually address the threat of corruption."

Speed also emphasised that the ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has the systems and people in place to detect and deal with any malpractice in any international match. "The ICC now has in place an experienced and well-resourced team to deal with these types of issues", he said. "Like every match on the international calendar, every game in this series has been closely examined and a thorough report will be prepared for the ICC as it is for every international series.

"The ACSU team is in Pakistan and it is alert to the dangers posed by the amount of betting that is taking place on these matches. In this series, like every other series in international cricket, every aspect of the ICC's comprehensive program to protect the game against corruption is being implemented."