2003 World Cup will be corruption-free: Condon

The 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa will be free of corruption and match-fixing, the International Cricket Commission (ICC) said on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural ICC Cricket Business Forum at Lord's, Paul Condon, director of the ICC's anti corruption unit said: "Preparations for the 2003 World Cup are going very well.

"We have a list of up to 100 people who will be excluded from the country if they try and travel and their names will be submitted to the South African authorities.

"Anybody hoping to travel to South Africa with the intentions of illegal betting or match-fixing should think of something else to do."

Condon, who was appointed director of the ICC's anti-corruption unit in June 2000, said he believed "hand on heart" that there had been no corruption or bribery in world cricket for 12 months, although he said there was no room for complacency.

Condon's report on corruption in 2001, that looked at match-fixing and illegal betting in the aftermath of the Hansie Cronje scandal, had recommended the establishment of the anti-corruption unit.

COULD HAPPEN AGAIN

Former South Africa captain Cronje, who was killed in a plane crash on June 1, was banned for life after admitting accepting money from bookmakers to influence the outcome of matches.

"It could happen again," Condon said. "The infrastructure is in place for unlawful gambling with up to $150 million being bet on most one-day internationals.

"But in terms of match-fixing, seedy deals and corruption, the work we have put in has suppressed that. That's the first time we can say that for 20 years.

"Despite all the strides we have made, however, there will still be doubters and those who think it still occurs. Unfortunately that is a curse world cricket has brought upon itself and will have to live with."

ICC president Malcolm Gray said the introduction of full-time security officers assigned to each of the test-playing countries had been a major weapon in the fight against corruption in the sport, although he cautioned against believing the job was done.

"No longer are we struggling to contain this despicable practice," he said. "We are no longer just reacting to events, every team has an effective system to keep corruption and cheats out of the game. But if we take our eye off the ball they will return."

Mail Cricket Editor