M. Waugh-Warne issue will not be reopened: ACB

SYDNEY, JULY 25. The Australian Cricket Board will not reopen any inquiry into the Shane Warne-Mark Waugh bookmaker scandal unless new evidence emerges, Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said on Tuesday.

Pakistan great Imran Khan on Monday questioned the explanation given by Mark Waugh and Warne for why they took money from an Indian bookmaker in 1994 and urged the ACB to re-examine the case.

In an interview with the ABC's Four Corners programme Imran scoffed at the story offered by the Australians over $9,000 they were paid by a bookmaker known only as John.

``With hindsight it makes no sense,'' Imran told the programme. ``Why would the bookies just give money to anyone for just giving a pitch report?'' Mark Waugh and Warne have said they were paid only for information on pitch conditions and weather.

Speed said he would look at the case again if there was fresh evidence, but none had been offered. ``Imran Khan says he's not happy with the way it was dealt with and wanted it reopened but gave no basis for that other than saying he wasn't happy with it,'' Speed told ABC Radio.

``I inherited this matter, I've been asked a number of times why we don't reopen the Shane Warne-Mark Waugh matter. We simply can't do that unless there's new evidence. We've said a number of times if there is new evidence we're happy to deal with that,'' he said.

Speed added that the new President of the International Cricket Council, Australian Malcolm Gray, should be given a chance to take control of the match-fixing scandal that has rocked the cricket world.

``He's new into the President's job and he comes into it with a good deal of enthusiasm and a good deal of resolve,'' Speed said.

- AFP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Indians off to a good start
Next     : It's for Real as Figo signs record deal