ICC's anti-corruption unit for IPL, Champions League

Lalit Modi: "In the past no one had thought about the large volume of games in a tournament like the IPL where you needed a dedicated wing, which we now have" © AFP Enlarge

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The Indian board has agreed to draft in the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) to monitor the IPL next March and the Champions League this October. The BCCI made the ICC aware of its decision at the ICC board's annual conference in London last month, Lalit Modi, the IPL and Champions League commissioner, said.

"They (ACSU) have expanded their services and going ahead, all the tournaments, including Champions League and the IPL would have the presence of ICC's anti-corruption unit," Modi told Cricinfo.

The IPL's commitment to fighting corruption in cricket was criticised after it kept the ACSU away from the Twenty20 league's second season in South Africa this year. The Indian board had felt that the US$ 1.2 million that the ICC would charge of its unit's services was too high. During the league's inaugural season in India last year, the IPL had its own anti-corruption unit in place, which was guided by the ACSU.

"In the past no one had thought about the large volume of games in a tournament like the IPL where you needed a dedicated wing, which we now have," Modi said.

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, welcomed the development and said the main reason behind the BCCI joining hands with the ACSU could be the knowledge that dealing with corruption is a complex job and the unit could not be ignored any more.

"The penny might have dropped as I have been making informative presentations to the board and chief executive committee on the risks and how the ACSU operates to counter these.," Lorgat told Cricinfo. "So, there may have been a better appreciation of the complex workings of the ACSU and not the previous misconception of simply an ACSU official preventing unauthorised people from gaining access to player areas."

One of ICC's main concerns is that since all international players in the IPL represent various nations otherwise, any relationships they develop in the IPL can get carried forward. ICC sources said that the ACSU would make sure such a situation never arises. Going forward, the ACSU would build a similar infrastructure for even bilateral series and monitor all games closely, the sources said.