ICC backs Australian Government move on cheating

Perth: Re-iterating cricket`s zero tolerance attitude to cheating, the ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has assured ICC`s full support for the proposals being made by the Australian Government to establish a national framework of laws to combat cheating in sport.

"ICC is pleased to add its support to that of Australia`s Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) in support of the Australian Government`s initiative to tackle cheating in sport.” "Like all sports in Australia, the ICC and its members cherish the reputation and integrity of the game. All sport needs honest competition and while in Australia I will be restating our well known stance to the Government," said Lorgat, who is in Perth for the third Test match between Australia and India. Referring to the spot-fixing scandal last year that saw the Pakistani trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir being handed different jail terms by the London court after finding them guilty of involvement in spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord`s in 2010, Lorgat said the ICC had worked effectively with the police to bring those who committed wrong to justice. "In the past year we faced the sort of challenge which could threaten any sport and I believe we conclusively proved that we will not tolerate any threat to the integrity of the game.” "I hope our swift and decisive action to charge, provisionally suspend and eventually prosecute and ban those who dared to sully the good name of cricket as well as the subsequent criminal prosecution will serve as a deterrent in future," insisted Lorgat. "ICC had also worked effectively with the UK Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police to bring those who committed wrong to justice," he added. PTI