Adam Gilchrist urges ICC to take stern action against fixing issues
Former wicketkeeper of Australia http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Gilchrist-c918 has urged the International Cricket Council to take strict preventive measures to ensure a corruption-free ICC World Cup 2011.
The former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 cricketer wants the apex body to deal the menace of match-fixing rigorously and feels the game might lose its existence in the international arena if the scourge of fixing ‘spirals out of control.’
“It's time for someone at the ICC to take more leadership on this issue,” the Australian was quoted as saying. “This (match-fixing) is the biggest issue in the game, it really is. Scheduling is another but that won't be an issue if there's
no cricket and if match-fixing spirals out of control there won't be any cricket.”
There were speculations of spot-fixing in a few games of the ongoing mega cricketing event and there were reports that the ICC was investigating those games. However, the sport’s governing body has been quick to dismiss such reports.
Spot-fixing came into limelight since August 2010 when a British tabloid carried out a sting operation exposing three http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Asif-c1993 and Mohammed Amir, involved in spot-fixing. The trio was
recently banned by the ICC for at least 5 years each for their acts.
The governing body then ensured that the quadrennial event would be a corruption free affair but there are speculations of wrongdoings in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758’s game against Pakistan which the hosts lost by 11 runs. The state television channel of
Sri Lanka claimed that Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera deliberately threw away their wickets and changed the course of the game.
Similarly, Shane Warne’s accurate prediction of the tied match between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 is under the ICC scanner.
Gilchrist said that the only way to deal with corruption is to be tough with those who are involved in it.
“People won't want to become stakeholders in our sport if match-fixing is allowed to flourish. The ICC has taken some action recently but I personally think the penalties need to be the harshest possible,” explained the Aussie. “I would
like to see a life ban for anyone who enters into ill-dealings in the sport.”
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