Ban countries failing to deal with corruption: Condon
Condon, who became the first chief of the unit in 2000 following the match-fixing scandal involving then South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, added that the ICC also had to get tougher with their punishments.
Condon, succeeded by former Royal Ulster Constabulary chief Sir Ronnie Flanagan in June 2010, was speaking following the prison sentences handed down to banned Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, and their agent Mazhar Majeed for their role in spot-fixing in last year’s Test series against England.
“The ICC has to give out the harshest sentences it can,” he said. “The nuclear option is banning boards from international cricket. The ICC must get tougher. This is a big wake-up call. Cricket is at a credibility crossroads.
“The ICC and national boards have to be tough and, if they are not, they have to face the consequences.”
Lord Condon said the three cricketers deserved to go to jail. The trio also received bans from all cricketing activity from the ICC in February.
“They deserved the sentences they got,” said Condon. “They betrayed their country and millions of people around the world who love cricket.”
Condon also praised the now defunct British tabloid News of the World for exposing the agent and the players.
“This was a sting that was done very well and I think they’ve done cricket a great service. If the ICC had done this it probably wouldn’t have got to court because rules around entrapment are complex. The News of The World had the freedom and courage to take this on.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
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@Iftikhar-ur-Rehman: No its not rich who are strong...but its poor who are deep in self pity.
@antanu g: Rich is strong, so it is one and the same thing
@Iftikhar-ur-Rehman: not strong but too rich to handle...
This statement is Pakistan Specific!! I am very sure Condon never meant India as Indian Board is too strong for him to handle / face....
KIndly ban 1stly India, because it is home of corruption
@antanu g, wisely said.
So what progress has he made in his eleven years as ACC head? Has he identified a single bookmaker or a corrupt player or a illegal betting racket? What does he has to show for eating up eleven years of perks and salary? He needs to get busy at the central place of all the illegal betting on cricket in the world, viz. India
A wakeup call to start being serious, responsible and accountable.
PCB get your act together...
wow.. he wants to ban pakistan. i cant say how can that be good for cricket. may be by replacing us with ireland as a test playing nation they can make up for banning cricketing nation of 180 million
ICC is a Lion which is moving around with a "Denture". Only bites where finds soft corner/limbs. Mostly becomes Toothless Lion where his opponents are more strong. The record says so and all cricket lovers and followers know it.