says ECB

LONDON, (Reuters) – Two English county cricketers have reported approaches from bookmakers, the England and Wales  Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday.

“ECB can confirm that two players have formally reported approaches from bookmakers which is in accordance with the policy communicated to players from the ECB funded player education programme operated in conjunction with the PCA at the start of each season,” the ECB said in a statement.

“ECB has reported this information to the International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption Unit and to the Police Authorities.

“ECB believes unlawful activities such as those attempted here and appropriately reported by players must be eliminated.”

The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that a county player had been approached by an Indian businessman who told him he could “name his own price” to fix the result of a one-day match this season.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said he thought this was just “the tip of the iceberg.”

“By speaking out I hope this player will shame others — and I am sure more players have been approached — into also going public,” Vaughan told the Telegraph.

“In the past, players have laughed off these kinds of approaches but now they must reveal the danger the game is facing. Its credibility is at stake. This is further evidence that as far as the fixers are concerned, our game is ripe for corruption.

“That was always going to be the case as soon as county cricket was beamed abroad, which increased its exposure.”

Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes said there had been rumours about match-fixing on the sub-continent for some time but he had expected it in English county cricket.

“For a cricket match to be fixed you are going to need more than one individual player, probably three or four,” he said.

“But reading the report this morning, I suppose with the business of spot betting, it is easy to fix with one player.”