Match and spot fixing: Challenges for the International Cricket Council

Abstract

Cricket is a sport that has been affected by both match and spot fixing over the last decade or so, with the former South African captain, Hansie Cronje and New Zealander, Lou Vincent, having admitted to be. Another New Zealander, Chris Cairns, is now facing perjury charges arising from his evidence at a defamation trial in which he denied being involved in fixing. Spot fixing was established against three Pakistan players during the 2010 tour of England that led to jail terms after the players failed to have their verdicts overturned in R v Amir and Butt [2011] EWCA Crim 2914. It also involved appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after the players received lengthy bans from the International Cricket Council (ICC).CAS upheld these bans in CAS2011/A/2364 Salman Butt v ICC and CAS2011/A/2364 Mohammad Asif v ICC. Questions arise. Were there other incidents and why were these players more prone to approaches by bookmakers – perhaps it is because players are some of the lowest paid in international cricket? This raises the issue whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) should consider establishing a ‘minimum wage’ for international cricketers. These incidents highlight that cricket, like other sports, must remain vigilant to the threat of matches being affected by match and spot fixing. The ICC has formed an Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) and created an Anti-Corruption Code, in efforts to deal with these problems.