Colombo, March 1 (IANS) The Australian team Tuesday strongly refuted media reports that the International Cricket Council (ICC) was investigating their opening World Cup match against Zimbabwe for potential spot-fixing.
Australia’s Brad Haddin laughed off the incident and dismissed suggestions that he and fellow opener Shane Watson were being investigated by the ICC over allegations of possible spot-fixing during the match against Zimbabwe.
‘It’s quite a laughable story. It’s a joke,’ Haddin told reporters after a net session at the Sinhalese Sports Club. ‘It’s not a case (of spot-fixing). We just got off the mark a bit slowly.’
Team manager Steve Bernard also rubbished claims against both players and termed them ‘ludicrous’.
‘This is the silliest thing I’ve heard this week – and I’ve heard a lot of silly things since I’ve been here,’ he said.
‘I am not sure how to respond to it. It is the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard in my life that a side can be 0-5 after two overs and that that’s suspicious,’ Bernard said.
Bernard said that the guys took time on a fresh track as they were not used to it.
‘At the start of any campaign, on a fresh track that the guys weren’t used to, it took a bit of time but 260-odd was a pretty good score. I’m not sure if it’s a make-up story by someone being a bit adventurous or a bit malicious…but I don’t pay it any credence,’ he said.
