Cricket: SLC to guard against bookies

World Twenty20 could be targeted by ‘undesirable elements’.

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga has denied reports that the board had any information regarding bookmakers targeting this year’s World Twenty20.

Media reports suggested that bookies were targeting the event and the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption and Security Unit  met officials of the Delhi Crime Branch officials  where this possibility was discussed.

“Maximum precautions will be taken to ensure that the bookies are not involved in the game and the players are protected,” said Ranatunga before adding that the SLC would follow normal process with the ICC’s assistance to keep tabs on such ‘undesirable elements’.

Reports indicated that upto 170 bookies could assemble in Sri Lanka during the 2012 Workd Twenty20 to fix matches or part of them.

Sri Lanka will be hosting Pakistan from June 1 and the Pakistan Cricket Board is also planning to host Australia preceding the World Twenty20. Despite being co-hosts of the World Cup last year, SLC suffered huge financial losses, mainly due to the construction of two new venues for the event.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2012.