Mystery shrouds investigators' presence

DUBAI, APRIL 19. Mystery continues to surround the agenda of the two International Cricket Council's (ICC) investigators now in Sharjah with the details of their investigations still kept under the wraps.

According to a recent ICC press release, the two ICC investigators Jeef Rees and Bob Smalley are in Sharjah, as part of the on-going investigation in match-fixing and betting in cricket.

The two ICC investigators, connected with the Sir Paul Condon-led anti-corruption unit, have created a suspense with their mysterious presence in Sharjah, The Gulf News reported.

So far only New Zealand manager Ross Dykes has acknowledged their presence in Sharjah. ``We have had meetings with the two investigators from the ICC in Sharjah,'' Dykes told The Gulf News.

Dykes, however, denied he or any of his players were interrogated. ``I think the word interrogated would not be proper,'' he said, adding that he and the Kiwi players had an informal meeting with Rees and Smalley.

``It was more along the lines of what to do, what to expect and what not to expect,'' he said. Dykes also denied there was any talk about the just-concluded New Zealand-Pakistan series after which Javed Miandad alleged that the one-day matches were `fixed.'

When the two teams played in New Zealand the ICC anti- corruption unit had an ideal opportunity to investigate but it did not probe into the allegations.

The third team in the current Sharjah tri-series, Sri Lanka played against England at home in Tests and one-day series prior to Sharjah but no investigation was carried out at Sri Lanka either.

Pakistan's manager Yawar Saeed said he was not approached by any investigators. Under the Pakistan team policy no outsider can talk to the players without the manager's permission.

The team's policy in this case is ``under no circumstances will we allow any investigations till the final is played. Our priority is the final and we would like our players to concentrate on that,'' he said and added, ``after the final we would be willing to co-operate for any investigation.''

The Sri Lankan team management also refused any approach by the investigators. Cricket Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) and Emirates Cricket Board officials were clueless about their presence.

- PTI

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