18 September,2010 12:02 PM IST | | Agencies
International Cricket Council chiefs have launched an investigation into alleged match fixing during England's third one-day match against Pakistan.
The ICC acted after a probe by The Sun exposed evidence apparently showing that bookies knew details of Pakistan's innings before the match had even begun.
The new investigation will center on suspicious scoring patterns in Pakistan's innings and on two suspect overs during yesterday's match at The Oval.
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Illegal bookies in India and Dubai apparently knew in advance what would happen so they could launch a betting coup.
The Sun's undercover team was able to pass details to ICC inspectors before the match began.
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Cricket chiefs then watched as Pakistan''s score mirrored the target that bookies had been told in advance by a fixer.
It is not thought that the overall result was fixed, only scoring rates in parts of Pakistan's innings. Pakistan eventually won by 23 runs.
The scandal centers on whether the match was manipulated by underground bookies to cash in on a popular bet among punters in India, where betting is illegal.
ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat has thanked The Sun for its investigation and pledged tough action on any players found guilty.
