ICC boss ‘confident’ of corruption-free WCup

Richardson urges govt to do more to tackle match fixing

NEW DELHI, Dec 12, (AFP): The head of cricket’s world body said Wednesday he is confident of a corruption-free 2019 World Cup as the sport works overtime to disrupt criminals who attempt to fix matches.

David Richardson, chief executive of the International Cricket Council, also called on national governments to do more to tackle match fixing, which has free,” Richardson told reporters at a promotional event in New Delhi.

He added: “We are persuading governments to introduce legislation that can make attempts to fix cricket matches a criminal offence and put these people behind bars.”

Richardson said there are currently investigations ongoing into corruption and match fixing.

Sri Lanka bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa was the latest to face suspension in October over accusations of match fixing.

Former Sri Lankan opener and exselector Sanath Jayasuriya was also charged for failing to cooperate with a match-fixing probe and concealing information

Richardson

in October.

The 2019 World Cup is due to take place in England and Wales from May to July.

The 59-year-old Richardson, who is a former South Africa wicketkeeper, also reiterated ICC’s interest in taking cricket to the Olympics.

The vast majority of ICC members are keen to have the sport at the quadrennial event, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has its reservations.

“We have got an ambition to have cricket in the Olympics in 2028. That’s easier said than done. We need to convince the International Olympic Committee to have cricket,” said Richardson.

“103 out of 104 members are strongly behind that decision to get cricket in the Olympics. There are some issues that BCCI has with the Indian Olympic Association but I am very confident that those issues can be resolved.”