International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has expressed a hope that the findings and sanctions imposed by an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal and handed down in Doha, Qatar, will act as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to act in a way that threatens the integrity of cricket.
The independent tribunal, chaired by Michael Beloff, QC, found three Pakistan players – Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif – guilty of charges relating to spot-fixing at the Lord’s Test match between England and Pakistan in August 2010. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt was also found guilty of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code by failing to report an approach made to him by Mazhar Majeed to engage in corrupt activity during The Oval Test match earlier in the same month.
Salman Butt was given a 10-year ban from any involvement in cricketing activities, five years of which were suspended on condition that, throughout that period, he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates, under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board, in a programme of anti-corruption education.
Mohammad Asif was given a seven-year ban from any involvement in cricketing activities, two years of which are suspended on condition that, throughout that period, he commits no further breach of the Code and he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of anti-corruption education.
Mohammad Amir was given a five-year ban from any involvement in cricketing activities.
In all cases, the commencement of each of the bans imposed against the players will be backdated to 2 September 2010 so to give credit for the period of provisional suspension already served. The Tribunal found that the charge under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that Mr Butt agreed to bat out a maiden over in the Oval Test match played between Pakistan and England from 18 to 21 August 2010 was dismissed, whereas the charge under Article 2.4.2 that Mr Butt failed to disclose to the ICC’s ACSU the approach by Mr Majeed that Mr Butt should bat a maiden over in the Oval Test was proved.
The Tribunal found that the charges under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that (respectively) Mr Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no ball in the Lord’s Test match played between Pakistan and England from 26 to 29 August 2010, Mr Amir agreed to bowl and did bowl two deliberate no balls in the same Test, and Mr Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate no balls, were proved.
Mr Lorgat said: "I am satisfied that the proceedings are now over and we respect the findings of the independent tribunal. The members of this tribunal are extremely experienced and have considered the matter at great length after hearing detailed submissions from all parties.
"From the moment we became aware of the allegations of spot-fixing made by the News Of The World newspaper in August 2010, the ICC has left no stone unturned in pursuing this matter and we are therefore pleased with the outcome.
"While I am deeply saddened that this case happened in the first place, I acknowledge and commend the decision to deliver lengthy bans to all three players. Corruption in our game will never be tolerated and, once again, I reiterate our zero-tolerance approach. I hope this investigation, and the verdicts delivered, makes that message crystal-clear."
Chairman of the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) Sir Ronnie Flanagan added: "Over the past few months, the ACSU and the ICC’s legal team have worked extremely hard on this case, including in its investigations prior to the time that the News of The World’s story broke. We have subsequently received significant support and cooperation from the newspaper’s investigators and the Metropolitan Police in order to develop the evidence on which the tribunal has based its decision. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the News of The World and the Metropolitan Police for all of their assistance during this process."
As to the publication of the tribunal’s written reasoned decision, Mr Lorgat said: "We note and agree with the tribunal’s strong and unanimous desire for the ICC to publish the decision in the interests of all concerned in the world of cricket. We are also aware of and fully respect the decision of the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service to charge the players with criminal offences in the UK and, with that in mind, we will carefully review the full decision and take proper legal advice before making any decision on publishing the reasoned determination."
Meanwhile in Australian rugby league, the NRL will consider employing a full-time integrity officer similar to those used in the racing industry. That is the NRL says in response to the police investigation which has resulted in a charge against Canterbury prop Ryan Tandy.
League boss David Gallop said the NRL was working with other sports and the federal government on anti-corruption measures but would not hesitate in creating a position similar to a racing steward if it was needed.
Tandy was arrested last week and charged with providing false or misleading evidence to the NSW Crime Commission, which continues to investigate an irregular betting plunge on a match between the Bulldogs and North Queensland last August.
The NRL used Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy to investigate betting on the Dairy Farmers Stadium match before referring the matter to police.
"An in-house resource may well not have the expertise that Ray Murrihy has, so there are different arguments around the issue but certainly where we need dedicated resources we won’t hesitate in putting them in place," Gallop told reporters on Monday.
"All sports are looking at better integrity measures, we’re working with the federal government on that and we may well see some improvements … across sport generally in terms of specific legislation to deal with people that want to corrupt sport."
Gallop said players didn’t need constant reminding about integrity issues, but did use the spot-fixing scandal engulfing Pakistan cricket to remind NRL stars of the consequences.
"If you’re involved in corrupting rugby league then I would have thought that life bans are well and truly on the cards," he said.
Meanwhile, Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg said he was unaware Tandy may have had a gambling problem when he joined the club midway through last season.
Reports suggest the journeyman frontrower had been dealing with the issue.
"We did some significant checks on Ryan with his old club, through his manager (Sam Ayoub), and we were given a glowing endorsement of him as a player and a person," Greenberg said.
Ayoub’s home was reportedly one of three raided, including Tandy’s, before the 29-year-old’s arrest.
Canterbury’s players, who take on the Sydney Roosters in their first trial game this Saturday, returned to training on Monday for the first time since Tandy was relieved of his duties at the Bulldogs.
"There’s no anger," captain Andrew Ryan said. "We’ve got a job to do. It’s pretty simple from our point of view.
"I think the club’s made the right decision at the moment and we need to move on."
Greenberg, coach Kevin Moore and Ryan said they had yet to speak with Tandy, although football manager Alan Thompson has been in contact.
Greenberg said the club would bounce back from its latest drama.
"We’ve done a lot of work, the Bulldogs, over the last three years to make sure people know what we stand for in the community," he said.
"This won’t change that."
The controversy spilled across the Tasman on Monday with revelations the New Zealand TAB rejected a bet "well in the thousands" from a woman for a North Queensland penalty goal to be the first score in the August 21 match.
The NZ TAB suspended betting on the option before contacting agencies in Australia and sending authorities material such as pictures and video footage, NZPA reported.
