CORRUPTION IN CRICKET

Test cricket under constant threat of corruption - ICC Chief Executive

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

David Richardson admitted that the longest format of the game remains at "high risk" © Getty

David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, acknowledged Test cricket remains under constant threat of corruption and stressed the governing body is working overtime to counter such threats. Match-fixing claims have rocked the cricketing fraternity after an Al Jazeera documentary showed individuals associated with cricketing bodies ready to bring the game into disrepute.

The documentary showed curators working in collaborating with fixers and were willing to doctor pitches. "Because we have hardened the target at the top level they are now going to focus on junior levels of cricket or other avenues such curators and groundsmen," Richardson pointed out at a 2019 World Cup event in London on Wednesday (May 30). "We know what the problem is. It is going to be a constant battle. We can't let up. We'll be in it for the long term."

Richardson also had no hesitation in admitting that the longest format of the game remains at "high risk". "It [Test] is as high a risk, but we've got the mitigating measures in place to make sure that it cannot have any impact," he revealed.

"And, yes, it would be very surprising if international cricketers were able to be got to. And because that target has been hardened, these guys are now trying to create their own leagues, at a much lower level, and the danger is they will start going to domestic tournaments and leagues that are televised."

The documentary also claimed three England cricketers were involved in match-fixing in the Chennai Test in India in 2016-17 while it also alleged involvement of Australian players. "We are obviously very much aware there are these types of individuals and types of criminal groups around the world who are trying to get into cricket, trying to get hold of players, trying to get hold of groundsmen But it was a reminder that these guys are at work and they are not going away, and we've got our work cut out trying to disrupt them," Richardson said.

The ICC chief executive also mentioned Al Jazeera haven't provided the Anti-Corruption Unit with the unedited footage for the investigation. "At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that is the case, but one of the allegations that has been made and we will look at it," he said. " If your own officials, hired to do the job of protecting the integrity of cricket are compromised in any way, obviously that is a concern. There is no evidence to suggest at this stage that is the case.

"I think it's too early to come to that kind of conclusion. Let's investigate, let's see what they've got, what kind of evidence there is, we don't know, so I think let's leave it to the investigators to get stuck in with Al Jazeera, get to the bottom of it, and then we can decide at the end whose judgement was right, and whether Al Jazeera's judgement was right."

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