Condon leaves it to ICC

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

LAHORE, MAY 26. Sir Paul Condon, head of International Cricket Council's Anti- Corruption Unit, expressed the hope on Saturday that the game's governing body would give a serious thought on his interim report on match-fixing which was made public last Wednesday.

``I am not pre-judging how they respond to it because it's their prerogative. But, after the Executive Board's meeting in London in June, I look forward to hearing what they have said about my report and I look forward how do they respond to it,'' he said. ``My honest belief is that all the cricket boards must, and I am confident will, work together to deal with this problem''. Condon, who met with the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Gen. Tauqir Zia and Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum at PCB headquarters in Gaddafi Stadium, did not give details about his meeting. ``It would be breach of confidence to actually relay the details of conversations. But, the conversations are far and wide like my report, what has happened in the past in the game of cricket'', Condon told newsmen.

``I have come here to strengthen my links with the PCB and I am glad our endeavour is to move forward worldwide (to eliminate match-fixing),'' he said. Condon, the former Chief of London Metropolitan Police, who started his investigations into corruption in cricket some eight months ago, feared that still a small number of cricketers are involved in this malpractice of fixing international matches.

``We do believe that small amount of match-fixing is still happening in a number of parts of the world. During last year, much of the match-fixing has stopped, but, small number of cricketers are still involved in this malpractice, he said. To a question that why names of guilty players were not mentioned in his report, Condon said that his unit had to keep in mind all the legal aspects before naming any guilty player.

''Primarily for legal and natural justice reasons we did not name any players. If players have already been mentioned in reports and all those reports have been made public I have repeated that in my report. But, since we are still carrying out some investigations, it would endanger the possibility of criminal or disciplinary action against those players``.

''Also, it would endanger defamation and legal action because I am not protected more as you are from the laws of defamation around the world. I am no longer a police officer so I am vulnerable to laws of defamation too``.

Condon has recommended in his report that ICC should start comprehensive training and awareness programme, designed to raise awareness of the risks of corruption in cricket and the methods used to entice players and others into malpractice.

''It's my honest belief that world cricket needs those measures to move forward,`` he said. ''This is not a 100 metres sprint. This is a marathon we are engaged in. Those of us who love the game of the cricket are determined to make sure the situation will be better``, he added. ''But, it can't be done overnight. Cricket world will have to work together. It's cowardice to sellout this great game rather than to preserve its honour and integrity``.

Condon has mentioned in his report that non-cricketing venues like Sharjah, Singapore and Toronto are easier for corruptors. However, he said that he had nothing personal against these venues. ''What I have said in my report is that if cricket has to take place on these venues, away from the scrutiny of the Test playing countries, then people have to be more vigilant``, he said.

But, Condon warned that cricket would never be 100 per cent clean from corruption. ''I don't think anyone can give such a guarantee in any sport because you need only one person to spoil the record. The situation is already better than it was. It's getting better month by month. By the next World Cup in 2003 it will be reduced to minimum malpractice in cricket``.

Four-year plan finalised

A comprehensive four-year plan was finalised during the special one-day meeting of the Asian Cricket Council which concluded here on Friday.

A central academy in which players from all over the region would get training was one of the main decisions taken by the house. The academy will be established in either Sharjah, Nepal or Malaysia, Chairman of the ACC, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia said after the meeting.

To promote cricket in the region the ACC plans to have one Development Manager, three Development Officers and two consultants. The development officers - one each from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka - would be interviewed by Zia. The successful candidates would be appointed as follows: First development officer: UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait Second development officer: Nepal, Hong Kong and Maldives Third development officer: Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

From junior level tournaments like under-15, under-17 and under- 19 to ACC trophies would be organised until 2004 and due funds will be generated for all the tournaments.

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