Match-fixing investigator to head ICC anti-corruption unit

Ravindra Nath Sawani, the former Indian police officer who was in charge of the enquiry that blew the lid off match-fixing in India in 2000, has been appointed the general manager and chief investigator of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

"I look upon my job as a great responsibility to protect the game of cricket through preventive vigilance," Sawani said in a press conference called by the ICC in Mumbai on Thursday.

Asked why an Indian was chosen for the role, and whether this was an indication of the prevalence of match-fixing in India, Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive said: "India has the biggest cricket-watching population and it's the financial powerhouse. We are aware of how much money is bet on cricket matches in India. We understand it is to the tune of $500 million to one billion for every ODI.

"In the history of match-fixing investigations, there has been involvement of bookies from India, and it will be good to have someone from India."

Sawani replaces Jeff Rees - who held the post since its inception until his retirement - and starts work in Dubai next week, reporting to Lord Condon, the chairman of the ACSU. Speed said he was happy with the partnership. "We have the best from England, which is the old power of cricket, and the best from India, the new power of cricket, and that's a good synergy.

"Having investigated match-fixing in 2000, we [the ICC] have come a long way in tackling these issues. It's not merely match-fixing we look at; players' behaviour, enforcing the code of conduct, the entire gamut of cricket runs under the ACSU."

Speed stressed the importance of the ACSU when asked about the investigation of the match-fixing allegations against Marlon Samuels, the West Indies batsman, which cropped up in January this year. "There has been a process in place since 2000 wherein when such an alleged offence comes up, it goes to goes to the ACSU".

The ACSU will then send a report to the ICC code of conduct commission, which is chaired by Michael Beloff QC. He will report to the ICC board, which will then advise the home board - in this case the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) - on what steps to take. Speed said "it's a slow but rigorous process", and WICB will then appoint a lawyer to conduct the hearing, if it is called for.

Sawani, 57, has 30 years of experience with the Indian Police Service, including seven years with the Central Bureau of Investigation, where, as the joint director in charge of special crimes, he led the enquiry into match-fixing. He is also the recipient of the president of India's Police Medal for Distinguished Services, the highest police medal in the country, in 2001.