The ICC announces swingeing penalties and an anti-corruption investigation
Mike Selvey at Lord’s
The International Cricket Council (ICC) this week demonstrated, in the strongest terms it can muster, its commitment to cleaning up the sport by announcing a package of measures to counter corruption, including life bans for those found guilty of match-fixing in any form, and the setting up of an independent anti- corruption investigation. Inquiries could extend back almost seven years, to July 1 1993, and penalties can be retroactive.
Following the two-day emergency meeting of the ICC executive, there is also a firm agreement from all nine of the member countries that they will co- operate fully with any investigations, and failure to do so could result in suspension from the ICC.
However, plans to ask all current international players to sign a declaration stating whether they have been involved in corrupt practice – although not whether they know of anyone else – seem a little optimistic with no incentive to be honest once the prospect of an amnesty was rejected as unworkable. They cannot seriously be expecting too many ticks in the “yes” box.
For a body as habitually slothful as the
ICC, it represents massive progress, however, and the chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Lord MacLaurin, upon whose initiative the meeting was assembled in the wake of the Hansie Cronje affair, admitted that the implementation of life bans will be the only way to restore public confidence in the game.
“We have got unanimity between all Test- playing nations to root this out,” he said. “But it is very difficult because there has been so much hearsay and innuendo.
“We have to find someone guilty, whoever it is, and make an example of them by kicking them out of the game for good.”
The penalties for match-fixing, gambling and, for good measure, involvement in drugs are swingeing. Betting on matches involving one’s own country or encouraging others to do so will bring five years and unlimited fines.
Indulge in match-fixing, inducement, underperforming or contrivance, and that is it for life.
Nailing the miscreants is going to be the big problem, however, and the anti- corruption investigation will be ongoing with wide-ranging powers within the game as a whole, covering not just players but umpires, team officials, referees, administrators and employees, although no sphere of influence beyond that.
It is to be totally independent of the ICC, is to be set up immediately, and will be operational by the time of the full ICC meeting in July. According to ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, it will be headed by “a very senior experienced person of legal background or experienced in investigation, a [queen’s counsel] or of that rank”.
The appointment will be made in consultation with Lord Griffiths, QC, the chair of the ICC’s code of conduct commission, with he or his successors the only conduit to the ICC once the investigation is in place. “It will be totally resourced by [the] ICC,” Dalmiya confirmed, “and its terms of reference drawn in consultation with Lord Griffiths.”
Despite the declarations of accord and the unanimity within the ICC, there is bound to be some controversy over Lord Griffiths’s eventual choice to lead the investigation.
It is also vital, for the good of the game if nothing else, that any findings are not kept in-house. “We must be as transparent as possible,” said Lord MacLaurin. “Once an investigation has taken place its findings must be released.”
One of its first tasks will be to focus on the Pakistan government-commissioned report into corruption, compiled by Judge Qayyum. It took two years to complete and was submitted nine months ago but has yet to see the light of day. One leak alleges that the report recommends life bans for Salim Malik, since retired, and Mushtaq Ahmed, but all will be revealed in five weeks’ time when it will be handed over to the ICC.
The ICC investigation will also monitor closely the judicial inquiry into Cronjegate which is to begin in South Africa soon and those that have been or are being held in India, England and Australia. The name of the man to lead the South Africa inquiry is expected this week.
The idea of an amnesty was always fanciful but might have offered a way out for potential whistle- blowers. However, it was deemed unworkable, not least for legal reasons. “We could not put ourselves in a position where we were offering amnesty to people who had committed criminal offences. That is not within our jurisdiction,” said the ICC chief executive David Richards.
Chris Lewis, whose revelations to a
Sunday newspaper contributed to the match-fixing debate, said: “I haven’t studied the full statement, but if the ICC is talking about life bans and long- term bans, then it is a definite beginning.
“They are showing people around the world that this won’t be tolerated. All of us earn a living in cricket and if the game gets tarnished we are in the mire.”
DECISIONSANDPUNISHMENTS
Decisions
l The final report of match-fixing in Pakistan has to be made available within five weeks.
l Every board to deal with evidence affecting players and other individuals within their jurisdiction.
l Fines and possible life bans for anyone found guilty of corruption.
l Suspension of any country failing to cooperate with the code of conduct commission.
l All international players and officials to sign a declaration stating they have not been involved in corruption.
Independent anti-corruption investigation set up.
l Standard registration system listing unacceptable behaviour.
Punishments
l Life ban for anyone influencing or attempting to influence the result of a match.
l Life ban for anyone underperforming in any match owing to an arrangement relating to betting.
l Five-year ban or unlimited fine for a bet on any match in which a player or official took part.
l Five-year ban and unlimited fine for inducing and encouraging anyone to bet on any match.
l Five-year ban and unlimited fine for gambling on any match.
l Five-year ban for receiving money or other reward for providing information on weather, teams, state of the ground, status of, or outcome of,
a match.
l Life ban and/or unlimited fine for receiving any money or other reward for bringing the game into disrepute.