ICC makes public appeal to help identify suspected Indian match fixer

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The International Cricket Council on Tuesday made an appeal to the public to help identify a match fixer involved with bookies in India, who was recently exposed through an AlJazeera documentary.

The appeal is part of an investigation by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), which is still trying to locate the alleged fixer, known as Aneel Munawar, who remains unidentified.

An Aljazeera documentary last year had exposed Indian bookies who had been fixing matches between India and other sides. Adeel Munawar was the central figure through whom the bookies had been making deals. In the investigation, it had been claimed that Munawar was a member of the infamous Indian ‘D-Company’ and was involved in fixing not only international games but also being involved in minor, televised T20 leagues created as a front for gambling.

“We have identified every other person in the original documentary and have spoken to a number of them in connection with match fixing, including those who are not deemed to be participants under our Anti-Corruption Code,” said General Manager ICC ACU, Alex Marshall.

“However the true identity of Aneel Munawar remains a mystery. He plays a significant role in the programme, yet enquiries with law enforcement and immigration sources have not identified or located him.”

According to details, the ICC has been claiming that the documentary makers have not been forthcoming with information about Munawar, even though they had promised full cooperation. It is worth mentioning that a follow up documentary is already in the works, and is reportedly in post production.

The ICC has claimed that Munawar will be a central part of that as well, but Aljazeera has until now denied this.

“The absence of any cooperation from the broadcaster has slowed the investigation, but to date we have made good progress in identifying people of significant interest including people already of interest to the ACU. We have been able to discount a number of claims made in the programme and continue to pursue other aspects. We will provide a full update at the conclusion of the investigation” read Marshall’s statement.

“As such we are appealing to the public or anyone from within the cricket family to contact us with any information that will lead us to identify and locate him. Police investigations often use such an appeal to locate people of interest and we are exercising the same approach.”