ACB equipped to deal with match-fixing issue

The events of this week have once again raised the ugly spectre of bribery and match fixing in cricket. Australian cricket fans have every right to ask just what are the administrators of the game in this country doing to address this problem.

Like the rest of the cricket world the recent revelations have shocked the Australian Cricket Board (ACB). They were totally unexpected and, if proven, pose a real threat to the integrity of the game.

For the ACB, these revelations have served to strengthen our resolve to do everything within our power to banish corruption from the game forever.

To this end, our primary domestic challenge is to ensure that this cancer does not take hold in the Australian game in any way. Our progress down this path has not been without incident.

No doubt people will recall the last year's Player Conduct Inquiry where Shane Warne and Mark Waugh faced an independent investigation by the respected Australian QC, Mr Rob O'Regan AM, into their actions during the 1994 Sri Lankan tour.

While there was no evidence of corruption, the O'Regan Inquiry clearly identified a number of weaknesses in the way this matter was handled by the ACB.

The decision by the then administration to cover up the events was clearly inappropriate, the players' behaviour described as "reprehensible" and their punishment "inadequate". These are fair and reasonable criticisms and were accepted in the way they were intended - as constructive advice to the ACB on how we could better tackle this complex issue.

The O'Regan Report also found that for a variety of reasons including the humiliation caused to the players there was no benefit in taking any further action against these individuals.

Indeed, the report states that "the important task is to ensure that the disciplinary regime which applies in the future is one apt to punish proscribed conduct justly and adequately and to deter others who might otherwise be minded to engage in it".

In the 14 months since this report was handed down the ACB, with the support of the players, has worked hard to put such a system in place. Australian cricket now has the most comprehensive and pro-active process to deal with these issues in the game.

Today the education and regulation program in Australian cricket includes:

The ACB also has international responsibilities to protecting and preserving the integrity of the game.

Cricket is a game that provides a bridge between diverse nations and cultures and the capacity for the game to fulfil this role is built on a mutual respect for the diversity and sovereign rights of each member country.

Every Cricket Board has the absolute obligation to ensure that the game played under its jurisdiction is free from corruption. At the same time, they have the unarguable right to tackle this task in a manner that is sensitive to the cultural, social and political systems operating in its own country.

These are principles that the ACB strongly supports. It is for these reasons that the only way forward is through concerted and cooperative effort on behalf of all ICC Member countries.

Over the past eight years, it is fair to say that international cricket has struggled to come to terms with this matter. Some Boards have made more progress than others but collectively there remains much to be done.

Over the past eighteen months there has been progress with the creation of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission empowered to deal aggressively with matters concerning corrupt activity.

This Commission will soon receive its sternest test.

In Cronje's case, the ICC has decided that the Commission will allow South Africa the first opportunity to address this problem through an independent judicial Inquiry. This is an entirely appropriate approach.

Equally reasonable is the reserve power held by the Commission to review the results of the any such Inquiry and, if not entirely satisfied with the results, to re-open investigations and pursue the matter to its own satisfaction.

But this is just one aspect of this issue. The overall impact on the game of these types of allegations must also be addressed.

There are calls for the establishment of an ICC Inquiry over and above the South African investigation. This may well prove to be the most appropriate response.

However, this decision can only be made with the benefit of a detailed and accurate understanding of what exactly has transpired in South African cricket.

At present it is difficult to sort out fact from fiction in these latest allegations and the results of the Judicial Inquiry will add greatly to our understanding of these issues.

The reaction to the news from South Africa has been understandably dramatic but it is vital that this instant and emotional response does not cloud our judgement. Make no mistake, the issues raised must be tackled and tackled aggressively but in undertaking this task we must first separate the truth from the deception.

The South African Judical Inquiry will add greatly to our knowledge on these matters.

It is vital that the South African Cricket Board move as quickly as possible to conduct this Inquiry and that the ICC and all other Cricket Boards act quickly on the findings that emerge.