From 2011 to 2012, there have been around two dozen instances of spot-fixing in 15 international matches, involving English, Australian and Pakistani players, reports Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit.
The evidence, uncovered by the Emirates-based news organisation, not only reveal corruption at the highest level of the game but also highlight the involvement of handful of players from England, who allegedly carried out spot-fixing in seven matches; Australian players in five matches and Pakistan players in three matches.
Apart from these three cricketing nations, the investigation also revealed the involvement of players from other teams carrying out spot-fixes in one match, including cases where both teams in the match were allegedly involved in spot-fixing.
The matches include six Tests, six One Day Internationals and three T20 World Cup games. Most of these matches involved instances of multiple fixing, taking the count to 26 fixes in the 15 matches.
As part of their investigation, Al Jazeera obtained purported recordings of a match-fixer calling in the fixes to a notorious Indian bookmaker, who is unaware that the recordings were leaked.
The matches in question include England versus India at Lord's Cricket Ground, South Africa versus Australia in Cape Town and several matches during England's series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The recordings reveal that the alleged fixing was mostly carried out by batsmen, many of them being world's most famous players.
The alleged match-fixer, Aneel Munawar, was already exposed by Al Jazeera in a documentary in May 2018. In the new documentary, The Munawar Files, which is a follow-up of the earlier documentary, it has been revealed that Munawar has been allegedly corrupting international cricket since 2010.
Out of the 26 predictions made by Munawar 25 of them proved to be correct.
The Al Jazeera report also includes pictures of Munawar and his associates in the vicinity of international cricket players during the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012, including talking to few of them. But there is no suggestion that these cricekters were involved in match-fixing.
One of the biggest revelations of the report is the fact that the match-fixer has been seen close to Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Another picture shows Pakistan’s Umar Akmal receiving and examining a bag allegedly given to him by a Munawar associate. The picture was, however, inconclusive on whether Akmal left with the bag.
Apart from these two, photographs also show Andy Bichel, the Australian coach, and senior Indian players, including Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Lakshmipathy Balaji.
The new documentary also includes a call recording allegedly made by Munawar to an unnamed English cricketer, where they appear to discuss spot-fixing. Munawar could be heard saying he is sending money to the player's account. But the player believed to be on the other side of the call said the conversation never took place and said the recording was a fabrication.
Lawyers for the England and Australia cricket board rejected the evidence provided by Al Jazeera. ICC also refuted the "assertion" that it does not take corruption in the sport seriously and once again questioned the broadcaster's refusal to share the raw footage.
“As with the first programme we have and will continue to ask for the cooperation of the broadcaster. We have made repeated efforts to engage with the broadcaster as it can play such a crucial part in the full and thorough investigation it has called for.”ICC Anti-Corruption GM Alex Marshall in a statement.
The ICC has been seeking footage of the sting carried out by the channel since it was first aired earlier this year. However, it claims to have got no cooperation from the channel.
"We do welcome the commitment from the broadcaster to share the files with Interpol and, I hope, other law enforcement agencies who can act upon the information and support us in ridding the sport of these criminals," Marshall added.
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