ICC concerns over ‘significant’ franchise corruption

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ICC concerns over ‘significant’ franchise corruption

ByTimothy Abraham

BBC Sport journalist
  • Published

The International Cricket Council are formulating plans to tackle what it has called “significant corruption concerns” in franchise tournaments around the globe.

In documentation seen by BBC Sport the ICC’s integrity unit have reported there is “growing evidence” that corrupters were “infiltrating leagues and players across a number of different member territories”.

The ICC are now planning to establish a working party which will seek to harmonise franchise cricket within the international calendar and examine how corruption could be tackled more effectively.

As part of the steps taken to mitigate the concerns the ICC’s executive committee will discuss a number of wider strategies during their ongoing annual conference in Edinburgh.

These include expanding the scope of when the ICC sanction a domestic league, meaning more tournaments would require their approval.

Under current regulations a domestic league in a non-full member country only requires ICC approval if it includes more than four players who have represented a full member national team within 24 months.

The ICC are also considering beefing up its powers to step into leagues where there were integrity concerns which are not being addressed.

Similarly, concerns have been raised over the threat by the growth of illegal betting particularly through the sponsorship of franchise leagues.

The ICC note these “expose host members to the risk of facilitating” illegal betting which carries the “potential for increased corruption”.

Mauritius set to become new member

Elsewhere, the ICC will formally ratify one new member at their Annual General Meeting on Saturday when the island country of Mauritius will be elected.

Applications were also received from Colombia, Poland, Latvia, Burundi and Burkina Faso but they did not fulfill all of the ICC’s membership criteria.

USA Cricket and Cricket Canada remain suspended by the ICC for ongoing issues related to governance.

France’s cricket board are in danger of being placed ‘on notice’ by the global governing body over whether its governance and executive structure are fit for purpose.

The country had to compete as ‘France XI’ in a recent T20 international series against Portugal because they have not held official status with the French sports ministry since the start of the year.

The ICC are also monitoring developments at the Italian Cricket Federation which was plunged into crisis just days after their debut appearance at the T20 World Cup following multiple board resignations.

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