ICC hails PCB’s Corruption Measures
Pakistan Cricket Board has received a life line from the international governing body of the game after the former took some concrete steps aimed at curbing corruption at the grass root level of the game in the country.
The ICC’s Pakistan Task Force was given the task of drawing up a plan that would help in improving the standard of administration in the country, and root out corruption from all levels of the game in one of the most passionate cricketing
centres.
The task force has some prominent names in its ranks and is headed by the ECB chairman, Giles Clarke.
It also includes, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Richardson-c85395, Chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, former English test captain Mike Brearley and former Pakistan test captain
and renowned commentator Ramiz Raja.
The recommendations of the task force coupled by the orders from the governing body were to be implemented by PCB with-in 30 days.
However in barely a fortnight the steps taken by PCB have got a nod of approval from the man at the helm of the ICC Haroon Lorgat.
Lorgat hailed the steps taken yet and was rather philosophical in his approach.
"We are encouraged by the excellent progress reported and also the willingness of the Pakistan Cricket Board to embrace the ICC recommendations," ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said after a meeting of the Pakistan task force, a group aimed
at bringing international cricket back to Pakistan, on Saturday. "However, we can never be complacent nor distracted in our determination to tackle corruption."
The ICC, had earlier this month warned the PCB of dire consequences if it failed to implement the recommendations put forward.
Left with little choice the PCB finally acted swiftly and came forward with a plan to arrest the continuing decline of governance in Pakistan cricket.
They vowed to implement some of the policy decisions made by ICC, who had conveyed to them clearly that PCB needed to get their act together by sorting out the game's administration or facing the consequences, possibly in the form
of sanctions.
In conjunction with the ICC orders, PCB has decided to implement an educational programme for players all across the first class and grass root set up.
They have devised a plan that would ensure "proper, accountable and robust disciplinary process for the sport".
Besides this they have formed a body led by the Chairman Ijaz Butt himself that is set to put in place a process to deter and detect corrupt elements within the game, "whether it be players, officials, agents or any other individual."
The PCB also received appreciation from Giles http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120, who was almost on a war path with Ijaz Butt after the latter had claimed that some of the English players had accepted 'enormous amounts of money' to throw away the third ODI of
the recently concluded series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
Clarke, emphasised the need for the PCB to reform itself, yet claimed that he was happy with how things have panned out in the last fortnight or so "The task team urged everyone to support the PCB to reform its cricket and governance
models and the important role http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 has to play in this regard," Clarke said. "An independent board would help it to regain its glory and ensure long-term success."
Meanwhile Lorgat asserted that not only PCB but all member boards have to take appropriate steps to stamp out corruption from the game and similar steps were expected to be taken by all major test and ODI nations. Lorgat further said
that the ICC has issued a broad advisory to all member boards about the growing need to tackle the problem of corruption. The advisory has requested all the international cricketers and support personnel to sign a once-off declaration before they participate
in the next FTP match and/or ICC event.
Lorgat reiterated that the declaration was the need of the day to serve as a reminder of the true spirit in which the game must be played, with emphasis on its integrity and the subsequent responsibilities of players in this regard.
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