ICC steps up anti-corruption measures

Bridgetown (Barbados), June 27 (IANS) Following the conclusion of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference here, the sport's governing body decided to adopt recommendations of an Integrity Working Party which had been convened to review the global risks for international and domestic cricket from corruption.

The decisions will see a greater role for the central Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) and will pave the way for greater coordination of preventative and investigative activity around the world with a unified vision to 'keep cricket clean'.

Among key recommendations that have been adopted is that the ICC ACU will be the central focal point for all anti-corruption activities in international and domestic cricket and will have enhanced intelligence capabilities. The ICC Board also asked for greater coordination between the ACU and national anti-corruption bodies.

The ICC established that the ACU will serve as the central coordinator for multi-jurisdictional cases and that there will be renewed emphasis on a programme that encompasses prevention, disruption, investigation and prosecution in that order of priority.

The ICC also ordered its Members to review their anti-corruption resources to ensure they effectively protect domestic cricket and adopt an anti-corruption code which includes the core principles contained in ICC's domestic template code within six months.

Soon, an international panel will also be established from which Members may, and the ICC will, draw their anti-corruption tribunals.

The sport's governing body also advised a thorough review of all training materials used for prevention, education and awareness to ensure that there is a consistency of message imparted, the most suitable and up-to-date techniques are used and records are retained of all those in receipt of training.

The ICC and its Members will also take active steps to lobby for the criminalisation of match fixing in sport in all Member countries and strengthen relationships with other anti-corruption stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies and betting monitoring companies.

"This has been an extensive exercise which clearly reflects our seriousness, endeavour and commitment to addressing and eradicating the menace of corruption from cricket. The successful implementation of these recommendations will help reduce the threat level but we need to remain vigilant and maintain a zero-tolerance approach," ICC Chairman N. Srinivasan said in a statement on Saturday.

The Integrity Working Party was constituted at the 2014 Annual Conference in Melbourne and was advised by John Abbott, an independent expert with many years of experience in tackling corruption in sport.