London, June 5: Former Australian wicket keeper and Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist has revealed that the threat of ‘match fixing’ was a topic of conversation among players in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Gilchrist, however, emphasized that he had not encountered evidence of any illegal activity during his career, but said players would be naive to assume it did not happen.
“It''s been discussed among players in the IPL - more wondering whether it goes on. There''s a strong thought that we''d be naive to think it''s not happening, because it''s a pretty easy target. There''s a lot of accessibility to players and it''s early in its governance,” The Age quoted Gilchrist, as saying.
“I''d be concerned if it was happening, but I haven''t seen anything concrete to say it is,” he added.
Gilchrist, who is also representing Middlesex in the English counties’ Twenty20 league, further said that cricket’s integrity is an especially urgent issue in England, where an unnamed county player recently reported that an Indian businessman had approached him.
“You need evidence, and I''ve not seen any. I hear suggestions and whispers, and this stuff that''s come out - police coming and arresting players - is pretty hardcore, but unless you get evidence and have something to back it up, it all means nothing,” Gilchrist said.
“So all the speculation is not good for the game, either,” he added. (ANI)
© ANI
