The SA connection to world cricket’s latest match-fixing drama

The Australian and English cricket boards have been scrambling to contain the potentially damaging fallout from match-fixing allegations made by news channel Al Jazeera.

In a documentary that has made waves, it is alleged that England’s Test against India in Chennai in December 2016 as well as Australia’s battle with India in Ranchi in March 2017 had been dogged by spot-fixing.

This practice tries to influence certain aspects or periods of the game instead of the whole match outcome.

Both boards have publicly stated there’s no “credible evidence”.

South Africa, however, is actually also indirectly involved in the saga.

Ottis Gibson, the Proteas head coach, was actually still England’s bowling coach in the Test in question.

He was asked on Monday whether he had suspected anything.

Naturally, the former West Indian fast bowler pleaded ignorance.

“I was there at the match, but I wasn’t playing,” Gibson reminded all with a touch of humour.

“I don’t know about the documentary. What are the allegations that are being made?”

Given some context, he responded: “There was fixing? Is that so? I don’t know.”

“I have no comment about that at this stage. I haven’t seen the documentary.”

Al Jazeera have been requested to provide raw, unedited footage to the International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption Unit but this has, according to reports, not been forthcoming.