By Omar Khalid, IANS,
Karachi : The International Cricket Council (ICC) Wednesday gave Pakistan 30 days to take a series of measures to protect the integrity of the game.
The ICC announcement came after the ICC Board met at its headquarters in Dubai. At the meeting, the Board received an update on spot-fixing allegations against three Pakistan players during a recent tour to England. Under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, the players – Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif – were provisionally suspended from all cricket.
ICC said that a series of measures were approved by the ICC Board to deal with the challenge and to assist the Pakistan Cricket Board, who have agreed to the measures.
“ICC Board to issue a broad advisory to all players reminding them of their individual and collective obligations to ensure that the integrity of the game is upheld and the severe consequences of a failure to do so,” ICC said the statement.
“PCB must act and be seen to be acting to uphold the zero-tolerance attitude to corruption in sport. In this regard, the PCB is required to conduct a thorough review of player integrity issues across all authorised cricket in Pakistan and report back to the Pakistan Task Team within 30 days,” it added.
The ICC wants PCB to implement a competency-based education programme for all registered players. It also wants the implementation of a proper, accountable and robust disciplinary process for the sport. The implementation of a deterrent and detection process to protect the game from corrupt elements, whether it be players, officials, agents or any other individual has also been demanded.
The ICC has also asked for the introduction of a domestic anti-corruption code which mirrors the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
“If the PCB fails to carry out the above to the satisfaction of the Board (acting in consultation with the Pakistan Task Team) within the next 30 days, the Board will consider what further action (including, if appropriate, sanctions) is required in the circumstances,” said the statement.