A documentary sting operation conducted by Doha based channel Al Jazeera has shocked the cricket community. It reveals that three of the Indian cricket team Test matches were fixed involving Australia, England and Sri Lanka.
Now BCCI has reacted cautiously to this sting operation, which also revealed that former Mumbai cricketer Robin Morris was involved in fixing pitches. BCCI has claimed that they will consider action against Morris, only if he was found guilty in the ongoing ICC probe.
The sting has been carried out by a channel and the Test matches in question are India vs Sri Lanka (Galle, July 26-29, 2017), India vs Australia (Ranchi, March 16-20, 2017) and India vs England (Chennai, December 16-20, 2016).
India had won the Tests against Sri Lanka and England, while the one against Australia was drawn.
"We believe ICC has started its probe. Let them complete that and pronounce Morris guilty. The BCCI will only act when they have the verdict in hand," a senior office-bearer of the Board told PTI today.
"We need to check with our Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) whether Morris' name was there on the suspect list. Secondly, he is not associated with any BCCI or state unit project currently from where we need to pull him out. So the only thing left is BCCI domestic cricketers' pension of Rs 22,500 (after deductions). If he is getting that pension, BCCI is well within its rights to cancel that but only after he has been proven guilty,” said the official.
Alleged to be a match-fixer, Morris is seen introducing Galle curator Tharanga Indika to the undercover reporter and boasting about getting pitches doctored as sought by fixers.
"Had his best days coincided with IPL, he would have been a good domestic pick. But he went to the rebel (and now defunct) Indian Cricket League just after taking 8 wickets for Mumbai in Irani Trophy," a Mumbai cricket insider said about Morris.
People were confused why Morris, who came from a middle-class family, had left a good job with Bharat Petroleum.
"I can bet he didn't earn a fortune playing domestic cricket and ICL. So in past few years, his lifestyle didn't actually add up. He would drive a Mercedes Benz, wear those expensive watches," said another close friend of the former player.
"Some of his old friends started keeping a distance from him. His frequent trips to Dubai did raise suspicion," added a former cricketer, who was teammates with Morris.
Robin Morris has gone incognito after the controversy broke out.
