ICC keeps a close eye

To discourage game "corruptors", the ICC will post three security managers at all venues during Pakistan's 50-day tour of India.

To discourage game "corruptors", the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) will post three security managers at all venues during Pakistan's 50-day tour of India.

HT Image

Lt. Col. Nuruddin Khwaja and NS Virk of the ACSU are two of the security managers who will keep a check on the possible influence of bookies and punters during the India-Pakistan tour.

A third manager will be flown in from London within a week as Pakistan's historic tour of India kicks off Tuesday with the first Test match being played in Mohali.

According to ACSU officials, confidential advisories have already been sent to the police in some states to monitor the movements of key bookies, including Shobhan Mehta and Jagdosh Sodha from Mumbai and Rattan Mehta and Deepak Jyoti from New Delhi.

During India's friendship tour of Pakistan last year, the ACSU had fielded three senior officials, including senior investigators Martin Hawkins and Alan Peacock.

The series passed off almost incident-free except for a complaint from former Pakistani wicket-keeper Rashid Latif that some Pakistani cricketers had under-performed in two One-Day Internationals.

"However, he could not back up his complaint with any evidence," said an ACSU official.

The ACSU managers will also keep a watch on players, both at the venues and hotels. Entry into dressing rooms will be strictly monitored with closed circuit television cameras positioned at vantage points. Mobile phones will be strictly prohibited during the course of play.

Hotel staff will also be instructed to keep a watch on all people "liasing" with cricketers.