`ICC must strengthen governance to fight corruption`

New Delhi: Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International today said that the ICC must tackle corruption both on and off the pitch that challenge the integrity of cricket by strengthening its own governance and by using its influence to promote high standards in national Boards.

"Cricket has a proud tradition as a byword for fair play. To keep that reputation the International Cricket Council must start implementing reforms that will strengthen transparency in cricket and address the many corruption risks that threaten the game," Transparency International said in a report titled `Fair Play: Strengthening Integrity and Transparency in Cricket`. Transparency International said, although much of focus of combating corruption in cricket has been in area of match-fixing, it considered it vital that everyone in the game, including cricket administrators, to operate to the highest standards of cricket and integrity if the message of zero tolerance for corruption on the pitch is to be taken seriously. "A sport can shape social values, particularly with young people, which is why it is important that those governing it do all they can to protect its integrity," it said. "The ICC has commissioned two recent governance reviews in the past two years but there has been no update on whether the suggested reforms have been implemented. We believe that the ICC should take the following steps as soon as possible to achieve greater transparency and accountability: "Publish Information about its anti-corruption programs and procedures; increase the independence of the Board and Committees, by introducing independent non-executive directors; publish a progress report on the implementation of the Woolf and De Speville reports; publish minutes and decisions of Board and Committee meetings," it said. Pankaj Agarwal, Vice-Chairman Transparency International India, said, "The recent IPL controversy could have been checked and proper preventive measures may restrict such activities in the future."