The Chief of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Haroon Lorgat has stated that the governing body of the game is keen on having betting legalised in order for it to monitor the industry better and work on putting proper anti-corruption methods that can safeguard the game at the highest level.
The Chief Executive of the troubled body was speaking to media in India as it battles to recover from the damning spot-fixing scandal involving three front line Pakistani players last year.
The trio of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt, the then captain of Pakistan, have all been handed bans ranging from 5 to 7 years for their involvement in the scandal that broke out during their country’s tour of England in August.
Whilst the ICC has slapped the bans the trio are facing a trial by the Crown Prosecution Service in England, the Southwark Crown Court in London has set an October 4 start date for the trial.
Lorgat thinks that the problem can be curbed significantly by having it regulated.
"If the industry was regulated you could actually work with them, monitor them better and everything would be legal so there is reason to go underground," Lorgat told one of the popular newspaper. "So our view is if it was to be regulated it would make the fight against corruption much easier for us."
He added that the Anti Corruption Unit has suggested that the ICC needs to keep a close watch on the players to ensure that they are not getting lured by bookies, and for that to happen the body has been advised to keep tabs on players.
"One of the suggestions being mooted is the concept of a mystery shopper," Lorgat said, "Meaning that we may well have people posing as a bookmaker, and approaching players to see if they report back to the anti-corruption and security unit, which is an obligation they have got."
So far the idea has not gone down well with the International player’s body known as the Federation of International Cricketers Association FICA, they think that it is not right for the players to be approached by the under-cover ICC agents and have their commitment questioned.
Lorgat thinks that a middle ground can be achieved. He also observed that the majority of players were honest and take pride in representing their respective countries. He also thinks that they play the game in the right spirit and would not object to such a move.
He added that this way the body can also gauge if the players actually trusted the ICC and its corruption body by notifying them if an approach is made.
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