Dhaka, Oct 9 : Mustafa Kamal, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, on Monday said it will investigate the India TV expose about umpires seeking to work in lieu of bribes.
Kamal told The Daily Telegraph, London: “I came to know about it (India TV sting) from the media. So, I am not in a position to make any comment. But if it (the allegations) is true, we will definitely investigate into it. But we have to wait until and unless we have the full details.”
This sting involved reporters posing as agents from a sports management company and mainly carried out their interviews over the past three months with the umpires on the internet via Skype.
Only Shah was interviewed face to face by the undercover reporters.
Shah said on Monday night: “This is a plot to malign my character. I was taken to Delhi by a Bangladeshi agent to sign a contract for umpiring in the Sri Lanka Premier League. But when I saw these people are corrupt, I changed my decision and did not conduct any match in the SLPL. I was never involved in anything like fixing.”
The programme alleged Ghauri offered to help India in future matches while Galage is seen on Skype offering to “manage” the match referee and other officials.
The Telegraph report said, though none of the officials involved stood in the recently concluded World Twenty20, yet two did officiate as reverse umpires in warm-up matches including the game between England and Australia on Sep 17.
The India TV sting alleged Maurice Winston handed over information about teams, conditions and the toss 90 minutes before that match in return for a bribe of 50,000 rupees, approximately £600.
Galage is recorded offering the same information before the warm-up between Pakistan and India while also offering to give a Pakistani batsman not out during a Sri Lanka Premier League match.
The allegations will spark an investigation by the ICC's anti-corruption unit although ultimately the investigations and any disciplinary processes may become the responsibility of each national board, says The Telegraph report.
The Telegraph report recalled, India TV channel broadcast a similar sting earlier this year which alleged corruption by five Indian players in domestic Twenty20, which resulted in bans for those involved.
