A Task team of cricket's governing body on Sunday said it was impressed by the steps taken by Pakistan authorities to curb corruption and discipline problems to safeguard the integrity of the game. The International Cricket Council (ICC) last month advised Pakistan to take strict steps to curb corruption and disciplinary problems, if they fail it could see the ICC punishing them.
Pakistan cricket has been rocked by allegations of spot-fixing, match-fixing and disciplinary problems, resulting in earning a bad name for the game at international level. Three Pakistani players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were provisionally suspended on charges of violating the ICC players' code of conduct last month.
The suspension came over reports in the British newspaper News of the World, which claimed several Pakistani players - including the suspended trio - obeyed orders from an alleged bookmaker during Lord's Test against England in August. The ICC also launched a separate inquiry after a tip off from another British tabloid The Sun, which claimed Pakistan's scoring pattern in the Oval one-day match (played on September 17) was pre-arranged with book-makers.
The ICC, however, cleared Pakistan from the Oval one-day allegations after no evidence was found. The Task team led by England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke held a tele-conference on Sunday, saying it was impressed with the steps taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
"The ICC's Pakistan Task Team (PTT) met by teleconference on Sunday to receive an update on the progress being made by the PCB to ensure the integrity of cricket," said an ICC release. It further added: "The PTT were impressed by the progress reported by the PCB. These included: The development of an Anti-Corruption Code by the PCB, a proposed plan to regulate agents of Pakistani players and an enhanced and countrywide education programme."
On the directives of the ICC, PCB last month introduced a stricter code of conduct for all the national team players and implemented steps to educate the players on corruption and doping.
"The PCB has clearly recognised that it is imperative to protect the integrity of cricket and we are indeed impressed by the progress reported. They have shown a clear determination to tackle their challenges," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. "The ICC Task Team is mindful of those challenges and is committed to supporting the PCB." Clarke also praised PCB's efforts.
"The PCB chairman and his team must be congratulated for the speed with which they have adopted the recommendations of the ICC Board. Everyone is encouraged by the statements and actions of the PCB and we must hope that they continue," said Clarke. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt reiterated his stance to purge Pakistan cricket.
"The PCB is determined to implement the recommendations provided by the ICC. We at the PCB, like the ICC, are committed to a zero-tolerance approach to any form of corruption," Butt was quoted in the release.