Cricket Australia gives go ahead to betting during Ashes

LONDON - Cricket Australia has given the green signal to cricket betting during the Ashes this summer, despite the controversy of betting corruption scandals rocking the cricket world.

Global betting exchange Betfair, Cricket Australia and broadcasters Channel Nine have inked separate commercial deals that will see cricket betting this summer promoted more than ever, The Telegraph reports.

The sponsorship deal with CA will allow Betfair to have betting caravans at Test cricket grounds as well as signage and other exclusive rights.

Betfair’s plans to promote the summer are already beefing up. Former England captain Michael Vaughan is visiting Perth this week to film advertisements to plug the betting company.

The advertising deal with Channel Nine will allow it to screen live cricket odds during Tests, with commentators such as Richie Benaud spruiking the betting products.

Betfair, which operates by enabling punters to bet against each other, has a range of exotic cricket options. Punters can bet on teams to lose, how many runs are scored in the first over, the number of wickets in a session and more.

Cricket Australia, however, has denied that the Betfair agreements are bad in spirit and added that it has no plans to distance itself.

CA public affairs manager Peter Young said: “The deal is totally transparent. We have some bullet proof integrity controls built in. One is that anyone placing a bet on Betfair has to agree to make the details of the transaction available to Cricket Australia. That way it is open and above board and we can go back and investigate if we want to.”

He added: “The deal also gives us control of what cricket events can be wagered on. For instance, we have a right to say they are not allowed to frame a market on the third ball of the fourth over being a no ball. Is it a good look or a bad look? We think it’s a good look and if every sports betting agency worked that way, cricket wouldn’t have the problems it does at the moment. Some Australians may have a problem with it but we don’t think the vast majority would.” (ANI)