The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ICC to decide on accreditation to banned players

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

ICC to decide on accreditation to banned players

By G. Viswanath

MUMBAI, AUG. 30. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will deliberate on an important item on its agenda — a proposal to prevent its members from granting media accreditation to cricketers banned for match-fixing and related activities. A resolution seeking to make them ineligible for media accreditation is expected to be endorsed at a meeting of its Chief Executive Officers in London on September 5 and 6.

The ICC move comes in the wake of an Indian cable television channel employing a former India captain as commentator and obtaining media accreditation for the Asia Cup from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.

Four years ago, South Africa's satellite channel `Supersport' hired Hansie Cronje as commentator for a home series soon after the United Cricket Board (UCB) South Africa banned him for life for match fixing. `Supersport' did not have its way though with the UCB explaining that the life ban on Cronje did not exclude him from commentating.

The ICC is determined to rid the game of bad elements and unscrupulous practices. While visiting India in mid-July to meet the BCCI's Working Committee members, the ICC President Ehsan Mani had voiced concern at Mohammad Azharuddin being awarded media accreditation for the Asia Cup.

"I am extremely disappointed to see Azharuddin doing commentary in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. There is zero tolerance for corruption in cricket and there should be no position in the game for a player who has been banned by his own cricket Board. If Azharuddin is deemed guilty, we have the BCCI's word that he has been banned for life, he should not be involved in the game in any way,'' said Mr. Mani then.

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