DUBAI // The ICC is powerless to stop corruption in cricket, according to Adam Gilchrist, who believes the battle against fixing can only be fought by players. The former Australia wicketkeeper retired from the international sphere two years ago, but is still actively involved at the top level as captain of the Indian Premier League's Deccan Chargers. At the first executive board meeting since the spot-fixing scandal involving three Pakistan players broke this summer, the ICC yesterday reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to corruption.
The Dubai-based governing body has attracted much criticism for the way it polices fixing, yet Gilchrist thinks the ICC is in an impossible position. "I think the ICC is doing a very good job at the moment in trying to educate all cricketers, especially the young players coming in to international cricket, as to the dangers that are there," Gilchrist said. "It doesn't matter if you have Interpol, Scotland Yard, the Australia Federal Police and an anti-corruption unit. You can have all those bodies circling around the sport trying to find the culprits, both externally and within the game.
"But there is only one group of people who can control it and that is the playing group. They are the ones who can truly eradicate any illegal gaming and gambling within the sport. We benefit a great deal from being a part of this great sport, and we have to take accountability to make sure it survives." pradley@thenational.ae