NZC yet to fix policy on scandal (29 December 1998)

29 December 1998

NZC yet to fix policy on scandal

by Geoff Longley

New Zealand Cricket's stance on allegations of bribery and match-fixing will be decided soon by chairman Sir John Anderson and board members.

Sir John is NZC's representative on the International Cricket Council's executive committee, which meets in Christchurch on January 10 and 11.

The ICC will decide what to do about the match-fixing and bribery charges which have cast a shadow over the game in recent seasons.

The three cricketing nations on the sub-continent, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, have called for life bans on Australians Shane Warne and Mark Waugh, who accepted money from an Indian bookmaker in return for pitch and weather reports in 1994.

Australia has said it will resist life bans, with the players already punished by fines.

NZC chief executive Christopher Doig said this country's policy on the issue would be confirmed by Sir John and the board by a conference call in the new year.

Sir John is at present on holiday.

Doig would not speculate on what position New Zealand would take on the calls for bans on Warne and Waugh. "I'm not on the NZC board or the ICC executive and it would be inappropriate for me to comment," Doig said.

However, Doig said the ICC executive, under a new constitution, had the power to make binding decisions on member countries on such issues. Previously, such matters had to be referred to ICC general meetings which often led to ineffectual decision-making.

The other major item on the agenda in Christchurch is the rotating four-year test cycle. Doig has re-worked and revised the idea into what he hopes will be a meaningful world championship.

"That will be talked over and teased about again and hopefully things will get a step closer to fruition,"said Doig.

A sub-committee of the executive group, chaired by Sir John, will meet the day before to further discuss developments.

The ICC executive includes the chairmen of all the cricket bodies of the test-playing nations, ICC chief executive David Richards, the heads of other ICC committees, and representatives from associate countries. The committee is chaired by ICC president Jamoghan Dalmiya.

During the visit, Doig wants to finalise next season's West Indies tour to New Zealand which he hopes will include another Boxing Day test in Wellington.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)