Cricket's governing body Sunday said every member board should introduce an anti-corruption code in their domestic cricket to support the fight against corruption. Corruption has rocked international cricket with three Pakistani players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer - suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in September this year.
The suspension came following reports in British newspaper News of the World, claiming several Pakistani players, including the suspended trio, took money to obey orders from a bookmaker during the Lord's Test against England in August.
A three-man tribunal is due to hear the case against the Pakistani trio in Qatar next month where if found guilty face severe sanctions, the maximum being life bans. The ICC also last month warned Pakistan to curb corruption and disciplinary problems in cricket, giving them 30 days to take serious measures and report to ICC Pakistan Task Team (PTT), failing in which may result in sanctions.
The ICC after a tele-conference of its Board members on Sunday issued a statement, saying that all member boards have agreed to introduce an Anti-Corruption Code. "All member boards have agreed unanimously that they should introduce an Anti-Corruption Code for their domestic cricket which mirrors that of the ICC by 1 April 2011," said the statement.
The ICC had already asked all the member countries to sign a declaration that they and their players will share any information on corruption with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU). ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat stressed the need for protecting the game from the menace.
"We have written to all ICC Members on 20 October 2010, requesting them to review the adequacy of their own processes and procedures to protect against the threat of corruption (domestic and international)," Lorgat was quoted as saying in the release.
"We have also told them that where necessary introduce new measures which would include a domestic anti-corruption code which mirrors the ICC code," said Lorgat about the code implemented last year.
"Where no domestic Anti-Corruption Code exists the Board agreed that the template should be incorporated as soon as possible and where an Anti-Corruption Code does exist that a review of those rules should be carried out to consider their adequacy," said Lorgat.
"ICC has a zero-tolerance towards corruption and we will do everything we can to protect the integrity of our great sport. All Members have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership and good practice in protecting the integrity of the sport at domestic and international level."
Lorgat said the PTT and Board members have appreciated steps taken by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and denied that the ICC will force selection matters on them.