Yogendra Pal appointed ICC Anti-Corruption chief

The ICC on Wednesday appointed India's Yogendra Pal Singh, a former joint-director with the Central Bureau of Investigation, as head of its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

Singh, 55, takes over from another Indian, Ravi Sawani, who is retiring after holding the post since November 2007.

Sawani will, however, be involved with the ACSU as a consultant so that his extensive knowledge and experience are available to world cricket's governing body, the ICC said.

The Delhi-based Singh, an Indian Police Service officer, comes to the new role with 30 years of experience, including stints in the CBI.

In CBI, as joint-director in charge of anti-corruption, he was involved in investigations of corrupt practices, particularly in Mumbai and New Delhi.

Alongside the chairman of the ACSU, Ronnie Flanagan, Singh will lead the work of the ACSU to ensure the game of cricket remains on top of the issues of corruption and security within the sport, the ICC said.

"First of all I would like to pay tribute to the work of Ravi Sawani. He has been outstanding in the role and instrumental in ensuring the ICC has retained a zero-tolerance approach and is at the forefront of fighting corruption in sport.

"We are fortunate to have a person of YP's outstanding credentials and experience to take over and I am sure he will continue the good work of ACSU," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.

"As recent events have shown, the menace of corruption in sport is real but with the measures we have established over the years the public can be confident that we will make certain the integrity of the sport is maintained. YP will bring with him a fresh outlook," Lorgat added.