John Holder claims he was asked to help affect proceedings Sri Lanka-Pakistan match in Sharjah
Former umpire John Holder has claimed he was offered £10,000 to manipulate a one-day international in 1993.
Holder, who stood in 11 Tests, said he was asked to help affect proceedings in a match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Sharjah in 1993.
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John Holder during India’s tour of England in 2011. Pic/Clayton Murzello
The 68-year-old made the claims on Sunday during an appearance on the BBC’su00a0Test Match Special programme.
“They said if I can somehow lull the Sri Lanka batsmen into putting on a partnership of 85 they would give me £10,000 in cash,” Holder said.
The Barbados-born Holder, a former Hampshire bowler, became a first-class umpire in 1983 and stood in 11 Tests and 19 ODIs between 1988 and 2001.
With the issue of spot-fixing back to the fore amid the scandal affecting the Indian Premier League, he was on Sunday asked if he had ever been asked to affect a game.
“I was in Sharjah in 1993 for a one-day international series between Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan,” he said.
“I was introduced to a man and offered £10,000 to make sure Sri Lanka batsmen put on a partnership of 85. He told me his syndicate were involved in making money as the game fluctuates.
“I said, ‘You’ve got the wrong person’. Players and umpires who get involved in match-fixing have got to realise there’s no such thing as easy money.
‘It can ruin career’
“Once you get into that, your career is ruined. You’d lose your self-respect, the players and commentators would know. I couldn’t live my life looking over my shoulder, and I’d always be remembered as a cheat, so I had to say no, and reported it.”
The IPL has been rocked by a scandal which broke when Rajasthan Royals players Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested for alleged spot-fixing.
On Thursday, Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf was withdrawn from the ICC Champions Trophy in June following reports that he too is being investigated by police in India.u00a0
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