ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit looking to keep World Cup a corruption free affair
The International Cricket Council has made it clear that it intends to keep the ICC World Cup 2011 a corruption free event and it is keeping a close eye on players and managements for the purpose.
The 10th quadrennial event is being staged jointly by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Speaking on the ICC plans to curb any possible match-fixing or spot-fixing during the mega event, head of the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, Sir Ronnie Flanagan said, “(We've) made meticulous preparations and are now fully deployed and will be at
their most vigilant throughout.”
Expressing his satisfaction over the proceedings of the tournament so far, he said, “We have had a wonderful beginning and I have every confidence the cricketing world can enjoy a thrilling, absorbing and entertaining tournament played to the highest levels
of skill and integrity.”
In the past few months, the ACSU has been working overtime due to the spot-fixing controversy which rattled the world of cricket.
The ICC plans to put an end to all forms of corruption in the game of cricket for which strict measures are being adopted on a regular basis. The cricketing body is keeping tabs on the players in order to reduce their communication with potential bookies,
who could influence the sportsmen into playing a particular match according to their wishes.
The prime targets of the ACSU are Pakistan players because three of them have recently been banned from the sport for corruption charges. However, the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Ijaz Butt hopes that the ACSU would focus on other teams as well during
the World Cup and will not limit itself towards Pakistan.
In 2010, Pakistan’s three main players were exposed by a British tabloid for having links with a bookmaker Mazhar Majeed and it was reported that they took money in order to bowl pre-planned no-balls during the Lord’s Test against England. The players included
Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and the then Test skipper Salman Butt.
The trio was suspended by the ICC and underwent a trial in front of an anti-corruption tribunal in Qatar in January 2011. The tribunal found the players guilty of foul play and handed them severe punishments. Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir
were banned from all kinds of cricket for at least 5 years each.
The three players are also supposed to appear before a magistrate in London on charges of conspiring with a bookie to defraud bookmakers in England. Although England and Pakistan do not have any extradition treaty, it has been reported that there is an agreement
between the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Pakistan and the Scotland Yard for the convicted trio to return to England to face the criminal charges.