Sharjah return will be rejected

England are expected to reject an invitation to make a return trip to Sharjah, the cricketing outpost repeatedly linked with match-fixing bookies.

There is supposedly a place open for them in a triangular tournament involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka in November. But England, who have not yet been approached officially, are unlikely to be interested, even though the event could serve as a warm-up for their winter tour of India.

Sharjah is expected to be mentioned yet again when the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit releases its first major report on Wednesday. A number of matches played there over the years are thought to be under investigation.

Adam Hollioake, the then one-day captain, was approached by someone offering him money to fix the result of a match when England visited the desert venue in 1997. He immediately reported the conversation.