Waugh's word is good enough, says Border
Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border has come to the defence of Mark Waugh, saying the senior Test batsman had been "crucified" by the local media.
Border said Waugh had denied allegations he had taken more money from an Indian bookmaker than he originally stated and his word should be accepted.
In an Indian police report, Indian bookmaker Mukesh Gupta claimed Waugh accepted 20,000 US dollars from him in a deal made in Hong Kong in 1993 to provide information.
Waugh said he had taken 5,000 US for team and pitch information.
"The presumption of innocence has got to take precedence there," Border told ABC radio Tuesday.
"He's under a lot more pressure and it seems in the media, has been crucified.
"He's saying one thing and an illegal bookmaker is saying another and we seem to be taking the illegal bookmaker's word on it.
"I'd sooner believe Mark Waugh's side of this and just get on with it."
Waugh, the twin brother of Test skipper Steve, has kept his silence since the renewed allegations.
Waugh has yet to be questioned by Australian Cricket Board's special investigator into cricket corruption Greg Melick.
Waugh and Shane Warne, admitted two years ago they took money from a bookmaker in 1995 for providing information on the pitch and weather in Sri Lanka.
They were fined by the Australian Cricket Board, although the penalties were initially hushed up by the ACB.
Gupta's allegations took on great significance Monday when it was reported former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, another of Gupta's accused, admitted he had fixed matches.
West Indies batsman Brian Lara, set to play in the first Test against Australia starting at the Gabba on Thursday, is claimed to have accepted 15,000 US from Gupta to underperform in one-day matches.
West Indies cricketing great Sir Garfield Sobers threw his support behind Lara on Sunday, urging him to forget allegations he had accepted money to under-perform.
"Whatever has been said, he's not involved," said Sobers who is in Australia to commemorate the famous 1960 tied Test.
"He should just forget about it and do whatever he has to do."
Lara, 31, has refused comment on the allegations on the advice of his lawyer.
Mail Cricket Editor
