Adam Gilchrist calls on Al Jazeera to name cricketers accused of spot-fixing in sting
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 23: Adam Gilchrist of the BBC commentary team watches on as he waits to speak on air before play on day one of the First Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes Series between Australia and England at The Gabba on November 23, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
The condemnation and confusion continues to grow over Al Jazeera’s sting documentary accusing England and Australia players of committing acts of spot-fixing in matches against India.
After the first installment of the documentary accused Sri Lanka of being involved in altering pitches to conditions where the wicket would severely deteriorate, the international broadcaster then released further footage on Sunday evening alleging England and Australia cricketers of corrupt activites and censoring the names of those accused.
England captain Joe Root labelled the claims ‘outrageous’ while the ECB released a statement saying the organisation ’emphatically deny the allegations’, and now Australia legend Adam Gilchrist has called on the broadcaster to reveal the names.
“No body, no nation, no team is immune to [spot-fixing] and there’s every chance it’s still going on around the cricketing world. So Australia, or England, or whoever they’re accusing – there’s a chance it could be going on, but if you’re that certain, then name them,” Adam Gilchrist told Back Page Live.
“I refuse to believe – and I’d be disappointed if I was proved otherwise – but England and Australian cricketers are getting paid so much.
“Unless these bookies have got a hook in these guys and they’ve got something over them from some other part in their life that they don’t want exposed, I can’t imagine why they would want to go and do it.”
The ICC has launched an investigation.