International cricket is a leader in the fight against corruption in sports and it needs to remain so. Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars changing hands on every match, the threat of corruptors seeking to influence the game has not gone away. It is for these reasons that the ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) continues to pursue the three objectives of investigation, education, and prevention.
The unit was set up in 2000 following a corruption crisis which represented the gravest challenge it had faced since the Packer Revolution of the 1970s and the Bodyline series of the 1930s. Cricket's reputation and integrity were tarnished and in danger of being destroyed.
Decisive action was called for in the wake of match-fixing allegations and revelations about South Africa captain Hansie Cronje and the captains of India and Pakistan, Mohammed Azharuddin and Salim Malik. Eventually all three were banned for life from international cricket. Other players were suspended, fined and warned about their future conduct following judicial and Board enquiries in several major cricket countries.
Its first Terms of Reference covered the three-year period up to the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa. Those original Terms have been reviewed and amended to recognise the wider role now required. With effect from July 2003, the Anti-Corruption Unit was renamed as the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.
The change in nomenclature was slight but appropriate as the Unit took on a broader mandate that gave equal weight to the prevention and investigation of corruption.
Its two principal roles are:
ANTI-CORRUPTION
* To assist the ICC Code of Conduct Commission ('the Commission') and the Members of ICC in the eradication of conduct of a corrupt nature prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket; and to provide a professional, permanent and secure infrastructure to act as a long term deterrent to conduct of a corrupt nature prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket.
SAFETY & SECURITY
* To evaluate safety and security assessments and intelligence in order to provide advice to the ICC Chief Executive and/or the Executive Board of the ICC ('the Executive Board') in relation to: (a) any event or competition organised by the ICC; and (b) the provision of match officials for FTP commitments
Lord Condon, formerly Director of the ACU, now leads the Unit as Chairman. He acts in consultation with ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. Day-to-day operational responsibility rests with the General Manager and Chief Investigator.
The Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is an operating division of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, which is chaired by Michael Beloff QC.
Allegations of corrupt activity are probed thoroughly by the Unit's Investigators, sometimes with the assistance of Police Officers. In support of their efforts, the ACSU's Information Manager continues to build an international network of contacts in both the legal and illegal markets so that where concerns are raised, the Unit is able to activate these relationships and effectively investigate allegations.
All players and officials that take part in the top level of international cricket pass through the ACSU's education programme.
As part of the education process, players are given details of the ways in which corruptors may seek to 'groom' them from an early age as well as the penalties that exist - not just for fixing all or part of a match but also for accepting money, benefit or other reward for the provision of information or failing to disclose the inappropriate conduct of others.
The five Regional Security Managers coordinate the ACSU's prevention measures. These experienced law enforcement professionals are present at every international series to ensure that strict anti-corruption protocols are enforced at all venues, particularly around the dressing room areas.
A firmer and more practical anti-doping code has been approved for implementation by the ICC as cricket continues the fight to ensure the sport is free of banned substances.
The code, which comes into effect on 1 January 2009, was recently given unanimous approval by all members of the ICC Board, indicating the overwhelming level of support the code has within the ICC membership.
The adoption of this strengthened ICC Anti-Doping Code coincides with the amendment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, making sure that cricket plays its part in the global fight against drugs in sport.
Consistent with the WADA Code, the new ICC Anti-Doping Code gives more flexibility to any hearing panel appointed in terms of the sanctions and penalties that may be imposed against players who test positive for a banned substance.
Critically, it also means that international cricketers must be available for testing at any time, any day of the year, whether it is at ICC events, bilateral series or even out of competition.
"The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach to doping in cricket and this new code serves to reinforce that position," said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.
"This code means it has just become even harder for drug cheats to get away with doping practices and it is part of our continued battle to ensure fair competition for all," said Mr Lorgat.
"The code is a living document which is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of cricket and modern sport in general. To this end, and in line with best practice, the ICC has conducted a comprehensive consultation process for the practical review and fine-tuning of the code's provisions."
"We are grateful to our Members and other stakeholders for their input and we are encouraged by the full support the Members have shown in approving its implementation" said Mr Lorgat.
"We must never become complacent when it comes to protecting our sport against drug cheats. We have recognised the threat and we have done something about it. This is a big step forward for everyone who wants to maintain clean and fair competition in cricket."
The ICC became a signatory of WADA in July 2006 and has been testing at its events since 2002. In that time, there has not been a positive test at an ICC event.
In line with the provisions of the code, the ICC will establish a doping hearing panel from which three people will be selected to sit as an anti-doping tribunal from time to time in order to determine whether an anti-doping rule violation has been committed.
The chairperson of the tribunal is required to be legally qualified while the others on the tribunal will have legal, medical or technical expertise with specific experience in anti-doping matters. Each member of the doping hearing panel shall be independent of the ICC.
In a further move aimed at bolstering the anti-doping movement in the sport of cricket, the ICC has also recently circulated a template anti-doping code for all of its Members to adopt in order to help them to govern anti-doping matters at a domestic level in a consistent and WADA Code-compliant manner.
The code, which comes into effect on 1 January 2009, was recently given unanimous approval by all members of the ICC Board, indicating the overwhelming level of support the code has within the ICC membership.
The adoption of this strengthened ICC Anti-Doping Code coincides with the amendment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, making sure that cricket plays its part in the global fight against drugs in sport.
Consistent with the WADA Code, the new ICC Anti-Doping Code gives more flexibility to any hearing panel appointed in terms of the sanctions and penalties that may be imposed against players who test positive for a banned substance.
Critically, it also means that international cricketers must be available for testing at any time, any day of the year, whether it is at ICC events, bilateral series or even out of competition.
"The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach to doping in cricket and this new code serves to reinforce that position," said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.
"This code means it has just become even harder for drug cheats to get away with doping practices and it is part of our continued battle to ensure fair competition for all," said Mr Lorgat.
"The code is a living document which is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of cricket and modern sport in general. To this end, and in line with best practice, the ICC has conducted a comprehensive consultation process for the practical review and fine-tuning of the code's provisions."
"We are grateful to our Members and other stakeholders for their input and we are encouraged by the full support the Members have shown in approving its implementation" said Mr Lorgat.
"We must never become complacent when it comes to protecting our sport against drug cheats. We have recognised the threat and we have done something about it. This is a big step forward for everyone who wants to maintain clean and fair competition in cricket."
The ICC became a signatory of WADA in July 2006 and has been testing at its events since 2002. In that time, there has not been a positive test at an ICC event.
In line with the provisions of the code, the ICC will establish a doping hearing panel from which three people will be selected to sit as an anti-doping tribunal from time to time in order to determine whether an anti-doping rule violation has been committed.
The chairperson of the tribunal is required to be legally qualified while the others on the tribunal will have legal, medical or technical expertise with specific experience in anti-doping matters. Each member of the doping hearing panel shall be independent of the ICC.
In a further move aimed at bolstering the anti-doping movement in the sport of cricket, the ICC has also recently circulated a template anti-doping code for all of its Members to adopt in order to help them to govern anti-doping matters at a domestic level in a consistent and WADA Code-compliant manner.
Test Championship
ODI Championship
| Team | Matches | Points | Rating | |
| 1 | India | 38 | 4719 | 124 |
| 2 | South Africa | 38 | 4572 | 120 |
| 3 | Australia | 39 | 4586 | 118 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 31 | 3574 | 115 |
| 5 | England | 44 | 4712 | 107 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 29 | 2337 | 81 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 25 | 2008 | 80 |
| 8 | West Indies | 29 | 2224 | 77 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 22 | 264 | 12 |
| Developed by David Kendix | Last Updated: Thu, Mar 11, 2010 | |||
ODI Championship
| Team | Matches | Points | Rating | |
| 1 | Australia | 53 | 7051 | 133 |
| 2 | India | 49 | 5982 | 122 |
| 3 | South Africa | 29 | 3401 | 117 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 33 | 3773 | 114 |
| 5 | England | 36 | 3965 | 110 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 40 | 4336 | 108 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 33 | 3420 | 104 |
| 8 | West Indies | 30 | 2158 | 72 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 38 | 1987 | 52 |
| 10 | Zimbabwe | 37 | 1011 | 27 |
| 11 | Ireland | 6 | 152 | 25 |
| 12 | Kenya | 14 | 28 | 2 |
| Developed by David Kendix | Last Updated: Mon, Mar 15, 2010 | |||
Former India captain Kapil Dev has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. The 51-year-old played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs across a 16-year career, and is best remembered for leading India to victory in the 1983 World Cup.
Kapil made his international debut in a one-dayer against Pakistan in Quetta in October 1978. His Test debut followed two weeks later in Faisalabad against the same opponents.
One of the greatest fast bowlers that India has produced and its finest bowling allrounder, he ended with a remarkable 434 Test wickets and 253 ODI wickets.
In 1994, he became the leading wicket-taker in Tests when he overtook Richard Hadlee, a record that was eventually broken by West Indies pacer Courtney Walsh. Also, in 1988 he leapfrogged another West Indies fast bowler, Joel Garner, to become the most successful bowler in ODIs, a record he held until 1994 when his tally of 253 wickets was passed by Wasim Akram.
Kapil's best bowling figures in a Test were 11 for 146 against Pakistan in Chennai in 1980, while in ODIs his best figures came in the group stages of the 1983 World Cup when he took 5 for 43 against Australia in Nottingham.
With the bat, he scored 5248 Test runs, including eight centuries and 27 fifties, at an average of 31.05. He also made 3783 ODI runs, including a highest of 175 not out against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells during the 1983 World Cup.
At a ceremony at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on Monday, ICC president David Morgan, alongside former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd presented Kapil with a commemorative cap.
Speaking on the occassion, Kapil said, "I am proud and happy to have been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and it's amazing to think that I have been picked as one of the greats of Indian cricket.
"I am delighted to have been named alongside so many great players of the game but for me, when I was growing up, the man I always looked up to was Sunil Gavaskar from the moment I started playing cricket. Now to be named also alongside greats of the game such as Clive Lloyd, Richard Hadlee and Wasim Akram it truly fantastic," he said.
Morgan said Kapil was an all-time great player. "He did everything. He batted, bowled and he was a fine fielder. I remember the great catch he took to dismiss Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final - he was on the run and the ball came over his shoulder, possibly the most difficult of catches."
Lloyd, who was Kapil's opposing number in the 1983 World Cup final, said he was a thoroughly deserving induction into the Hall of Fame. "He was a fantastic cricketer and he was a great asset for Indian cricket during his time at the helm," Lloyd said. "He set the pace for them early on and he came to the fore and did wonderfully well - he played like a true champion and was a brilliant leader."
Daryl Harper has not been chosen to officiate at the World Twenty20 in West Indies although the ICC insist the decision has nothing to do with his controversial role in the fourth Test between England and South Africa, at the Wanderers in January, and is based on "general performance reasons".
Harper came under the spotlight when he was the third umpire in control of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in Johannesburg. He gave Graeme Smith not out under the review procedure when he was unable to hear a clear noise as the ball passed the edge.
It was suggested at the time that Harper hadn't had the volume level turned up when listening to the replay, although there were counter-claims that it was a problem with the original feed from the host broadcaster which they denied.
"It will be noted that Daryl Harper…has not been selected for this event," the ICC said. "This decision was taken by the selection panel for a number of general performance reasons. It must be categorically stated, however, that none of these reasons is related to his role as third umpire in the fourth Test between South Africa and England in Johannesburg earlier this year."
It wasn't the first time that Harper had been involved in controversy either in the TV umpire's chair or out in the middle and the ICC's statement that his omission from the World Twenty20 is for general performance suggests it has been a build-up of errors.
Harper isn't the first umpire to miss a high-profile tournament. In 2007, Aleem Dar, Steve Bucknor, Billy Bowden and Rudi Koertzen were stood down from the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa - along with match referee Jeff Crowe - following their part in the chaotic conclusion to the 2007 World Cup final in Barbados. The game ended in virtual darkness when the umpires didn't realise enough overs had been completed to register a match.
While Harper won't be in the West Indies, three international panel umpires - Marais Erasmus from South Africa, Australia's Rod Tucker and Shavir Tarapore from India - will join their elite colleagues.
The decision on the umpiring appointments was taken by a four man committee comprising of Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager, Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC chief match referee, David Lloyd the former England coach and now TV commentator and Srinivas Venkataraghavan the former elite umpire from India.
Umpires Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen, Asoka de Silva, Simon Taufel, Asad Rauf (all from the elite panel of ICC umpires), Marais Erasmus, Shavir Tarapore and Rod Tucker (from the international panel of ICC umpires).
Match referees Ranjan Madugalle, Alan Hurst and Jeff Crowe
The ICC is considering implementing the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) for the World Cup in the subcontinent next year. The system, meant to reduce umpiring errors, has been used in Tests but never officially in a one-day international. The ICC's Chief Executives' Committee met in Dubai to review the implementation of the system in 14 Tests over the last four months.
It also hosted a UDRS workshop which was attended by representatives of Channel Nine (Australia), Sky Sports (UK), Ten Sports and Sky New Zealand and of technology suppliers Hawkeye, Virtual Eye and Hotspot.
"The scope of the discussion covered the protocols for broadcasters and umpires as well as the playing conditions around DRS," David Richardson, the ICC general manager - cricket, said. "We also looked at the preferred technology, whether there was a need for standardisation for all Tests around the world and the cost of providing equipment at all Test matches. There was also constructive discussions on whether DRS should be used for the ICC Cricket World Cup."
The system, introduced in July 2008 and used in select Test series, has received mixed reviews from players and umpires. It landed in controversy during the Johannesburg Test between England and South Africa in January, when a caught behind appeal was turned down by the third umpire Daryl Harper. It later transpired that Harper may not have adjusted the volume on his equipment from the preset level of 4 out of 10, although the absence of Hotspot and Snickometer technology from the broadcasting package provided by the hosts, SABC, meant that he might still have felt that the evidence was insufficient to overturn the decision of the onfield umpire, Tony Hill.
In a bid to eliminate such inconsistencies in the future, the ICC decided that they had to meet with all broadcasting companies in a bid to standardise the use of technology.
All-time XI - South Africa  | Chaminda Vaas  | All-time XI - Australia  | ||
| Andrew Flintoff  | Michael Vaughan  | Kevin Pietersen  | ||
| The Ashes 2005  | Anil Kumble - The Spin King  | Sourav Ganguly  | ||
| Sri Lanka v India 2008  | Stephen Fleming - The Tactical Genius  | Shaun Pollock - A true Protea legend  | ||
| Australia's 16 consecutive Test wins  | Best Crowd Moments  | Shots of 2007 - Test  | ||
Shots of 2007 - ODI  | Inzamam-ul-Haq  | ICC World Twenty20 2007  | ||
| Scintillating moments of World Cup 2007  | World Cup Final 2007  | Team Bangladesh - World Cup 2007  | ||
| Team Ireland - World Cup 2007  | Team South Africa - World Cup 2007  | Team Sri Lanka - World Cup 2007  | ||
| Team India - World Cup 2007  | Team West Indies - World Cup 2007  | Team Pakistan - World Cup 2007  | ||
| Team New Zealand - World Cup 2007  | Team England - World Cup 2007  | Team Australia - World Cup 2007  | ||
Ashes 2006-07  | South Africa v India, 2006-07  | Legends of Cricket  | ||
| Contemporary Legends  | Contemporary Legends  | Contemporary Legends  | ||
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