Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh on Mazhar Majeed Match Fixing allegations
The cricket world was hit by allegations of nexus between players and bookies but the two Indian players -- Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh --who were mentioned in the reports as also Cricket Australia rubbished suggestions of any wrongdoings.
Pakistani players' agent Mazhar Majeed reportedly made the claims that he had "access" to Yuvraj and Harbhajan along with several other international players during his conversations with the now-closed 'New of the World' undercover reporter Mazhar Mehmood.
The recording of the conversation were played to a jury and the judge at Southwark Crown Court in London during the criminal trials of Pakistani cricketers, accused of spot-fixing.
While Harbhajan threatened action, Yuvraj simply ridiculed the report and Cricket Australia said the claims "appear to be outlandish and made by a person of dubious repute."
"I don't know who this person is, I have never met him. We will definitely take some action against him. I don't know whether it will be a legal action or whatever," Harbhajan said in Nagpur, where he is playing in the Challenger Series.
"But I will definitely bring it to BCCI's notice and I am sure that they will take right kind of action against these kind people who are trying to spoil the game," he added.
Yuvraj took to Twitter to rubbish the report.
"...And who is majid!! absolute rubbish! Don't know never met!" he wrote.
"The problem in India is if someone says a rooster has given an egg it will become news !! Whether it’s true or not it doesn't matter," he fumed.
According to media reports, Majeed named the two Indian cricketers along with a host of other international players, who have also rejected the reported claims.
The name-droppings took place during the fourth day of the trial of former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and pacer Mohammad Asif, who are alleged to have bowled predetermined no balls for cash. Bot the players have denied the charges.
Cricket Australia said the claims made by the alleged bookie seem "outlandish" as had there been any truth in them, CA would have known and acted.
"According to Majeed, Australian players were notorious for betting on 'brackets', periods of matches in which some bookmakers accept bets about how many runs would be scored," media reports said.
"These would appear to be baseless allegations, but at the same time cricket needs to stand very firm in its conviction against corruption in our sport. If there are allegations that have any sense of credibility around them then it's very important we take all of the necessary action to investigate," CA CEO James Sutherland said.
"If we charge players and find them guilty we will have no qualms about issuing a life sentence on players who are found guilty of match fixing," Sutherland added.
Sutherland said he would get in touch with the ICC to take stock of the match-fixing investigations.
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s ups and downs
Actor Shahid Kapoor is getting matured day by day with the increasing number of break-ups and patch-ups in his relationships with Bollywood's top leading ladies. Though Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra has parted their ways, it seems that Shahid has no such bitter feelings towards Piggy Chops.
Shahid was seen at a recent event to support co-star and ex-girlfriend Priyanka Chopra as she was being crowned the best dressed lady of 2011. In fact, Shahid cheered whole-heartedly for his ex-lady love Priyanka.
A Popular magazine crowned Ms Chopra the best dressed lady of 2011. In fact, when Shahid was asked, he agreed that Priyanka is indeed the best dressed person around. However, Priyanka feels that Deepika Padukone is a better dressed celebrity and that she can confidently carry off almost any outfit.
Well, it seems that Shahid is somewhere trying to get cozy again with his ex-love.
