Match fixing ICC's concern: Pawar

Kolkata, Feb 8 (UNI) BCCI today washed off its hands from the Nagpur ODI match fixing controversy, saying that it was for the ICC to take necessary action on the issue.

Throwing the ball into the ICC court, BCCI president Sharad Pawar said the Board has forwarded the Nagpur police's report and the onus was now on the cricket's apex body to take further action.

''This is not a matter of the board. We have sent the report to the ICC headquarters in Dubai,'' Mr Pawar said in his first reaction on the latest controversy.

Mr Pawar is visiting Eden Gardens for the first time after taking over as the BCCI chief.

The first One-Day International between India and the West Indies in Nagpur on January 21 came under scanner for match-fixing after reports from the Nagpur police came in yesterday.

Nagpur police sent a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) where they have mentioned of ''definitive proof'' in telephone conversations, wherein West Indian batman Marlon Samuels is said to have leaked vital match information to bookie Mukesh Kochchar.

Police have established a nexus between Samuels and Kochchar and say that the all-rounder had leaked information like pitch conditions, the West Indies batting order and team strategies.

India had beaten the West Indies by 14 runs in the Nagpur ODI in the first of the four-match One-Day series, which India later won 3-1.

The Vidarbha Cricket Association received the match-fixing letter against Marlon Samuels, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla later confirmed.

Shukla added, ''I think Nagpur police will take strongest possible action.'' Deputy Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar said Samuels gave out information on the batting line-up but ''we have no evidence about financial commitment made.'' With the World Cup to played in the Caribbean from March 13, the West Indies Cricket Board will be severely jolted with the development.

India was rocked by another match fixing scandal involving South Africa in 2000 when the Delhi police had exposed the matter.

UNI