ICC moves to crack down on match-fixing,
sets up Code of Conduct Commission
The International Cricket Council has approved a Code of Conduct Commission to ensure that the game and its image are cleaned of the allegations of bribery and match-fixing.
At a two-day meeting, the ICC unanimously agreed to set up the commission to oversee inquiries into match-fixing, bribery, and betting on match outcomes to "guarantee uniformity and consistency among all the member countries", ICC chief executive David Richards announced in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Monday.
The historic meeting agreed to give the ICC further teeth to control the game, and to require each country to establish a judicial process "to give cricket restored dignity and harmony".
"We're looking for standard and stringent penalties in regard to any person found to be in breach of the regulations in regard to match-fixing or bribery or betting on the game of cricket," Richards said.
While there is work to be completed on the penalties, "any person found guilty of match-fixing can expect to be put out of the game for a very long period of time, if not forever", Richards said.
Under the plan, the three-member commission will ensure that each country follows uniform procedures by reviewing all corruption findings.
If necessary, the ICC's conduct commission can request further work by the country, set up its own inquiry into an issue over which it has concern, or ask a third country to investigate if it has been implicated.
Richards said it would deal with the issues quickly "and in an open and transparent fashion".
While the ICC has still to determine at what point allegations of corrupt practices will be made public, Richards welcomed the decision of the Australian Cricket Board to publish the outcome of its present inquiry into bookie payments to senior Test players Mark Waugh and Shane Warne.
He said the cricket boards of the nine full ICC members were unanimous in granting the council the jurisdiction to deal with serious disciplinary matters like match-fixing and bribery and establishing a uniform drugs policy for the sport.
"This is a very positive step forward," Richards said.
Gambling on cricket, taking any form of inducement, or match-fixing is "totally unacceptable to the game, totally unacceptable to the ICC, and totally unacceptable to the countries of the ICC," he said.
The three commissioners have not been named, but at least one will have legal background.
ACB chairman Denis Rogers hailed the establishment of the commission as "magnificent", adding that it was a "tremendously important thing that has happened in the world of cricket".
AP
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