ICC probes CWC fixing claim

Johannesburg - A Kenyan player is being investigated by the ICC on suspicion of fixing in two international games, one of which was at last year's Cricket World Cup, the country's cricket boss said on Thursday.

Cricket Kenya chief executive Tom Sears said that the player, who he would not name, has not been suspended but is under investigation by the sport's governing body.

Sears indicated that the World Cup game in question was Kenya's heavy 205-run loss to Pakistan in Hambantota, Sri Lanka last February, where Kenya was bowled out for 112 after Pakistan made 317-7. Kenya's bowlers conceded 46 extras in the game, including 37 wides.

Speaking by telephone from Kenya, Sears said the player, who is not part of Kenya's current squad, was also suspected of "tampering" with another international involving two other countries. He did not give any details of that game.

"There are a couple of instances (under suspicion)," Sears said, "one involving a match in which a player played and one where he didn't.

"If you look at what we can afford to pay our players compared to full members (of the ICC), maybe we're more susceptible (to fixing). But there's no excuse. We'll do all we can to work with the ICC."

Cricket Kenya was contacted by the International Cricket Council late last year over the fixing suspicions, Sears said, although the ICC did not confirm any investigation when contacted.

"(The) ICC does not and never has commented on the activities of the ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit)," the world body said in a written reply.

Kenya lost all its games at the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, also falling to heavy defeats to New Zealand by 10 wickets, Sri Lanka by nine wickets and Australia by 60 runs. It even lost to minnows Canada, by five wickets, and Zimbabwe, by 161 runs.