Australian duo were fined for passing information to bookmaker (8 December 1998)

8 December 1998

Australian duo were fined for passing information to bookmaker

AFP

SYDNEY, Dec 9 (AFP) - Two of Australia's leading cricketers - spin bowler Shane Warne and batsman Mark Waugh - were Tuesday implicated in a betting scandal that has plunged the sport into crisis, the Sydney Morning Herald reported in its early editions on Wednesday.

The Australian Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday night that it had fined Waugh and Warne for providing information to an Indian bookmaker during Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in 1994, the newspaper reported.

Cricket officials had covered up the scandal ever since the players were fined in early 1995.

It was reported that both players admitted having supplied the bookmaker with information about match conditions and possible team selection. It was unclear how much they had been fined.

The revelations come as a severe embarrassment to Australian cricket officials, who supported claims by Warne, Waugh and spin bowler Tim May in 1995 that Pakistan captain Salim Malik offered them bribes to throw matches during their tour of that country in 1994.

Several Australian cricket officials have known of the affair since the pair were fined, but have kept it secret because of its explosive nature, the Herald reported.

The chief executive of the ACB, Malcolm Speed, on Tuesday night confirmed there would be a media conference in Adelaide on Wednesday at which the issue would be discussed. Waugh and Warne are both expected to attend.

Speed said there was no suggestion that Waugh and Warne had been involved in anything other than providing information. "There is no suggestion whatsoever of any match-fixing," he said.

Waugh is due to play for Australia in the third Test against England starting at Adelaide Oval on Friday, while Warne is absent through injury=2E

Waugh's manager, Leo Kalis, refused to comment, saying: "Mark will be making a statement tomorrow."

News of the fines was expected to spark worldwide reaction but the English Cricket Board declined to comment at its London headquarters and referred enquiries to the International Cricket Council.