In an effort to bring closure to the issue of match-fixing allegations against Brian Lara, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has appointed eminent Barbadian lawyer, Elliott D. Mottley Q.C to conduct an independent investigation into certain allegations made against Mr Lara.

WICB President, Pat Rousseau made this announcement following a meeting of the Board held in Antigua yesterday (Wednesday April 11).

Mr. Rousseau said that the WICB‚s legal counsel, Justin Simon had represented the WICB at an ICC meeting in Australia on the allegations but no new evidence had been presented. Mr Rousseau added that while the allegations were still unsubstantiated, Mr. Lara had not yet been officially cleared on the matter.

Mr. Simon had recommended that the only way to have the matter settled officially would be to arrange for an independent investigation as had been done by other Cricket Boards whose players had been accused of match-fixing.

Mr. Lara has advised the WICB of his complete support for the initiative being taken by the WICB to officially clear his name and has reiterated that the allegations are without foundation.

Mr. Rousseau noted that the WICB was very pleased to be able to procure the services of one of the most outstanding lawyers in the region, Elliott Mottley. Mr. Mottley is a former Attorney-General of Bermuda and a past President of the Organisation of the Caribbean Bar Associations and the Barbados Bar Association. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Barbados Bar Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Committee for the Reform of Criminal Law.

The WICB President said that Mr. Mottley would set his own timetable for the investigation. For the purpose of the investigation the term "match-fixing" includes:

Instances where an individual player or a group of players receives money individually or collectively to under-perform;

Instances where a player places bets in matches in which he plays with the intention of under-performing or having other players under-perform;

Instances where a player passes on information about team composition, team morale, pitch condition, weather conditions and probable result etc. for monetary gain.

© CricInfo