ICC Promises Corruption-Free World Cup

Sat, Feb 16, '02

Paul Condon, head of the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), is confident next year's World Cup in South Africa will be free of any match-fixing.

"I am very confident that the measures being put in place in South Africa and around the cricket world will ensure that the World Cup will be a tournament played entirely on merit,'' Condon told journalists.

"There will be a sensible but stringent security regime in place, which will act as a major deterrent to would-be corrupters.

"At the same time it will be as unobtrusive as possible as far as players and spectators are concerned.''

Condon is at the desert venue to review security measures recommended by the ACU last April to eliminate widespread corruption from the sport.

The move follows the ban imposed on several Test players -- including former South African captain Hansie Cronje -- for their links to illegal bookmakers.

The proposals include strict controls on access to players' dressing rooms and team hotels and restricting the use of mobile phones by players during matches.

"There is now a much greater awareness of the problem among cricket authorities and players,'' Condon, the former head of London's Metropolitan Police, added.

"That, combined with the work of the ACU and the series of preventative recommendations accepted by the ICC, has made significant inroads into the problem.''

The ACU has undertaken an intensive programme of briefings and security audits in preparation for the World Cup.

Following Condon's visit to Sharjah, there will be a complete security review of all venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya which are due to host World Cup matches in 2003.

Next month, the ICC is also expected to appoint an anti-corruption coordinator and five security managers, who will be responsible for liaising with the Test-playing nations, as part of the battle against match-fixing.