New Zealand sets up its own Corruption Commission

New Zealand Cricket is establishing a Corruption Commission to investigate vigorously and examine openly any alleged incident, which may involve New Zealand players in corruptive practices in the future.

The move follows the revelations of matchfixing and corruption in cricket on the world stage over the last year.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chairman Sir John Anderson commented in NZC's annual report that NZC was determined to play its part in protecting and preserving the integrity of cricket.

The terms of reference of the international anti-corruption commission will be finalised at the International Cricket Council meeting in Nairobi later this month. All countries have been asked to establish their own Corruption Commission's.

"Our commission will be there in readiness and if it is required we can put it straight into action," Anderson said.

Its members are two yet to be named New Zealand Queens Counsels.

Commenting on the matchfixing scandals, Anderson said: "There have been personal tragedies for players who have been involved in these activities but the true tragedy is in the suspicion and cynicism that all 'upset' results may now attract.

"It saddens me and all cricket supporters that this blight of corruption has been discovered in our game," he said.

"The positive in this issue is the vigour with which cricket administrations world-wide are pursuing the truth.

"The International Cricket Council (ICC) has led the way by establishing an independent Code of Conduct Commission, chaired by Lord Griffiths and more recently by appointing Sir Paul Condon to investigate and examine any alleged incidents that come to light directly or through each individual country's own investigations."

Anderson said cricket has a unique opportunity to forge a positive direction for future growth and development.

A positive move is the ICC intention to regularise an international tour programme for the next 10 years.

"The next two World Cups and the knockout series have been sold for sums considerably in excess of the returns from these events in the past.

"While New Zealand will only have marginally increased revenues from this, in the longer term, from 2011 onwards, the returns will be much more substantial," he said.