Sarwan under investigation by the ICC in match fixing allegations

West Indies batsman and former captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, has been accused by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the International Cricket Council of being engaged in match fixing. A source close to Sarwan has confirmed that the ACU informed Sarwan of their investigation immediately after the recent West Indies vs England World Cup match.

In cricketing circles for years Sarwan's relationship with a Guyanese businessman who owns a night club and bar in Scarborough, Ontario has been reason for suspicion. The owner of the night club is frequently seen with Sarwan and is known to travel with Sarwan on cricket tours. Sarwan often boasts that he owns the night club; but sources close to the businessman have often said that Sarwan never contributed any monies to the establishment of the night club known as "Windies"; but receives a share of the profits every month. Many persons in cricketing circles have often suspected the so called profits may have been derived from sources other than the night club.

As news of the investigation into the Sarwan spread in cricketing circles former and present West Indies players have expressed disgust and disappointment that Sarwan would undermine his team and jeopardize his own cricket career in such a reprehensible manner.

It appears that the investigation into the corrupt activities came to light during the recent 2011 World Cup in India/ Sri Lanka/ Bangladesh when suspicious activities and phone calls were observed and recorded from taps placed on Sarwan's phone.

It is unclear at this time whether the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has been officially informed of the investigations; with one knowledge source saying in the the investigations which led to Marlon Samuels being banned, the WICB was informed of the investigations at the same time that the player was initially informed.

This investigation comes at a time when Sarwan who was dropped from the West Indies Team for its tour of Sri Lanka in 2010/ 2011 had only just earned a recall to the West Indies Team.