Two English, three Pakistan players to be named by CBI

The ongoing match-fixing scandal promises to take another dramatic turn, when the CBI releases its interim report later this month.

As per a report appearing in The Daily Telegraph, the investigating agency will name two English, and three Pakistani, players while painting an exhaustive picture of international cricket corruption.

Former all-rounder Chris Lewis had in fact earlier made allegations to the effect that London-based sports promoter Aushim Khetrapal had revealed to him the names of three English players suspected of complicity in match-fixing.

The ECB, however, downplayed that allegation. An internal investigation was swiftly carried out, and all English players absolved of culpability.

There were allegations of a cover-up, since denied by ECB chief Lord McLaurin, who ironically has been taking the high moral ground on the issue, dating back to the last few weeks of Jagmohan Dalmiya's reign as ICC chief.

The ECB, after absolving its own players, then turned the heat on Pakistan, first demanding that the entire report of the Quayyum Commission be made public, then insisting that all players named by the judge be dropped if England is to go ahead with its winter tour of Pakistan. This led to a face-off, following which England back-tracked and has sanctioned the tour.

England also pushed for, and got, the appointment of one of their own -- former metropolitan police commissioner Sir Paul Congdon, to give him a name -- as head of the ICC's in-house anti-corruption unit.

Interestingly, the ECB is yet to release its own report of its investigations into England players. And after the moral public posture, the revelation that its own players are involved could lead to severe embarassment for the country, ahead of its tour of Pakistan.

The CBI report, which according to sources will nail several Indian cricketers besides pointing accusing fingers at players from Pakistan, South Africa and England, is expected to be submitted to the government in the fourth week of this month.

Mail Cricket Editor