Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is contemplating legal action against British tabloid The Sun for naming him as one of the two Essex players under investigation for “match irregularities” in the county championship.
“I don't know from where they have got their information but I have spoken to my lawyer and we are contemplating to sue them for damages,” Kaneria said.
Earlier The Sun had reported that Kaneria and another Essex player are to be probed following incidents in one-day matches last summer.
The Pakistan star is missing the start of the season with his county - the official reason being he is playing in a domestic tournament at home.
His future at Essex is now in doubt.
The other player - a lower-profile member of the staff who is not featuring in the opening championship match against Hampshire - will almost certainly be released if found guilty.
Kaneria, 29, has taken 254 wickets in 58 Tests and is due to play against England in the second half of the summer.
Televised matches in the Twenty20 Cup and the 40-over competition attract millions of pounds worth of gambling money because they are normally shown in India.
The suggestion is the players did not actively throw matches but manipulated passages of play by bowling poorly or sending down no-balls or wides.
Essex have known about the allegations for a month but were shocked when they became public.
County coach Paul Grayson said: "I am not allowed to comment."
