ICC reprimands Hill for comments on spot-fixing: report

Wellington:

The International Cricket Council has reprimanded New Zealand umpire Tony Hill for publicly stating that he suspected the no-balls bowled by Pakistani pacers during the Lord's Test in England to be deliberate, according to a report.

According to the report, the ICC has reprimanded Hill for "talking publicly about the betting scam surrounding the England -Pakistan test at Lord's."

"ICC has told him not to comment further until the investigation into the matter has been completed," the report claimed.

In an interview, Hill had said he did not suspect spot-fixing when Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir bowled the no balls but thought the duo deliberately did so to unsettle England batsman Jonathan Trott.

He said he and his colleague Billy Bowden had discussed the no-ball bowled by Amir.

"We never suspected a thing. There had been the big overstep in particular and in our minds that was more a deliberate overstep to have a go at Trott, who had been batting so well," Hill said.

"Billy and I chatted about that and thought it seemed deliberate, especially as it was dropped in short. But it all seemed to be one of those things that fast bowlers have been known to do to get an advantage."

Amir, Asif and Test captain Salman Butt were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council after the scam came to light through a British tabloid's sting operation.

The trio has decided to contest the charges and written to the ICC in that regard.