ICC says no probe into World Cup match

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has denied a newspaper report that it is investigating match-fixing claims during last year's World Cup semi-final.

A front-page article in this weekend's Sunday Times alleged that the ICC had been looking into concerns over the match between India and Pakistan in Mohali last March.

Lorgat denied the assertion on Monday, labelling the article "baseless and misleading" and adding that the ICC had no reason to suspect fixing a match India won by 29 runs.

"The story carried by the newspaper, in which it has claimed that the ICC is investigating the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan, is baseless and misleading," Lorgat said.

"The ICC has no reason or evidence to require an investigation into this match.

"It is indeed sad for spurious claims to be made which only serve to cause doubt on the semi-final of one of the most successful ICC Cricket World Cups ever."

The article made widespread claims regarding the activity of illegal bookmakers in cricket, among which it alleged that unnamed players from New Zealand were open to striking a deal with such figures.

New Zealand Cricket strongly rejected those reports on Monday.

NZC chief executive David White said: "We have complete confidence that the claims made are baseless and have no credibility.

"The sources are not credible and the accusations are unsubstantiated making them irresponsible, damaging and untrue.

"The integrity and reputation of the game is paramount and NZC have absolute confidence that our players share these ideals.

"We have been in contact with the ICC anti-corruption unit and this is now a matter for them to follow up on."

 Reacting to the allegations, former ICC President Ehsan Mani said he was "taking the report seriously".

Mani suggested that the best way tackle the menace was to legalise betting and counselled that governments should take steps to regulate betting.

"ICC and cricket boards have not been able to get to the root cause (bookies) of the problem. So far it (betting) is underground. If you regulate it then you can have administrative control, you can monitor it and unusual pattern can be highlighted," he said.

"There is no other way. A lot of money, close to 500-600 million, will be on bet during the next Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan," he added.

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