Anti-corruption unit for Cricket Australia

Australian domestic matches, including the newly-minted Twenty20 Big Bash League, will be monitored by anti-corruption officials this summer as part of Cricket Australia's own anti-corruption and security unit.

The first season of the BBL will bring an added level of betting interest to the Australian summer, plus a bevy of international players, and the formation of the new unit will play a similar watch-dog role to that provided by the ICC at the Indian Premier League.

Headed by CA's security manager Sean Carroll, the unit will be responsible for the maintenance of security and anti-corruption standards in Sheffield Shield, Ryobi Cup and BBL matches, while the responsibility for internationals will remain with the ICC.

The unit will also educate all domestic cricketers, as well as providing education sessions for staff about CA's betting and anti-corruption policies.

James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, has been part of the push for sports-specific match-fixing legislation in Australia, and said the local game needed to be more vigilantly monitored.

"Betting related corruption is a significant issue to sport in general and Cricket Australia is determined to institute measures that safeguard the integrity of our sport," Sutherland said. "There has been no evidence of problems in domestic cricket but we want to move pro-actively on the basis that vigilance and constant education is critical.

"The Unit will give our domestic cricket bodies a specialised resource to call on to protect our sport from instances of corruption and underscores our dedication to stamping out illegal activity. Sean's experience as part of the ICC ASCU will be invaluable in the construction of Cricket Australia's own anti-corruption unit.

"The creation of CA's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit complements the strong work being done in this area by state and federal governments and the Coalition of Major Participation and Professional Sports. COMPPS has been working with Minister Arbib and various state governments on sports betting matters for some time and we are hopeful of seeing a national approach adopted in the near future."

The legislation, which has been agreed to by state sports ministers, is currently being mulled over by state attorneys-general and is expected to be enshrined into law in each state parliament by March 2012.