London, June 3: The current test series between England and Pakistan was thrown into turmoil Sunday after it was revealed the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption unit had warned English cricket authorities the first Test at Lord's may have been the focus of illegal bookmakers.

England won the first Test of the two match series by an innings and nine runs in under three days and are in the middle of the second Test at Old Trafford, Manchester.

According to the Sunday newspaper the News Of The World the head of the anti-corruption unit, Lord Paul Condon, a former head of London's police force, told both the English and their Pakistan counterparts that there was a "potential threat by known corruptors to influence the series between the two sides."

A spokesman for the ICC said that they had nothing to add to the newspaper statement attributed to the anti-corruption unit. "That position holds good and that is as much as we have to say at the moment."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed they then warned their players for the need for "ever-present vigilance."

"The ECB was notified by the anti-corruption unit of a possible threat to influence the outcome of the first Test against Pakistan," a statement from English cricket's governing body read.

"As a result all of the England players were reminded of the need for ever-present vigilance and to report any suspicious approaches to the team management.

"As this match is confidential we are not prepared to comment on the specific nature of the threats."

Condon released a report into match-fixing on May 23, just days after England had thrashed Pakistan.

The 77-page document fell short of naming names because of restrictions under British law.

This interim report is due to be submitted to a meeting of the ICC executive at Lords on June 18. The spokesman added that it was "premature to talk about a date for a final report," before the ICC had met to consider Condon's findings thus far.