Unfazed by fresh match-fixing allegations, former Australian batsman Mark Waugh has denied that he ever had any connections with Indian bookmaker Shobhan Mehta, who recently claimed that he used to receive match-day tips from the cricketer.
Waugh, who was fined $10,000 in 1995 by the then Australian Cricket Board for supplying weather and pitch information to an Indian bookmaker identified only as 'John', also said through his agent Leo Karis that he was not concerned by the new allegations.
"Mark denies ever knowing this guy, or speaking with him or dealing with him. Corruption investigations had not found Waugh guilty of anything other than supplying information to 'John'," Karis was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.
Karis said Mehta and 'John' could be the same person but Waugh still did not have any case to answer in regard to Mehta's statements.
"I've no idea whether this guy (Mehta) could be John.
That's not for us to determine. The thing is, Mark went through two (corruption) investigations and it was found he had no case to answer."
Police Commissioner D J Vanjhara last Friday said in Ahmedabad that Mehta had claimed links to Waugh during his playing days.
Mehta had claimed he would on occasion contact the Australian an hour before the start of play to receive tips on weather and pitch conditions and late team changes, Vanjhara said.
