CRICKET: The International Cricket Council is to investigate allegations Indian bookmakers, with the help of a Bollywood actress, have been fixing the results of English County Championship matches and international games, the Sunday Timesreported.

The newspaper, in a front-page article headed “English cricket in bung scandal”, said it had evidence tens of thousands of pounds were being offered to players to throw part or all of international matches, including last year’s World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan.

It said batsmen were being offered “typically £44,000 for slow scoring, £50,000 for bowlers who concede runs and as much as £750,000 to players or officials who can guarantee the outcome of a match”. It added: “So rife is match-fixing in parts of India that cricket may be in danger of losing its reputation as a civilised sport played by gentlemanly rules.”