Results from the ICC Board meeting at Dubai

The ICC Board met at its headquarters in Dubai on 12 and 13 October. Among the main decisions are the following:

ICC action to protect integrity of the game

The ICC Board, which re-affirmed its zero-tolerance approach to corruption in cricket, will work with the Pakistan Cricket Board through an enhanced role for the Pakistan Task Team in order to protect the integrity of the game and restore confidence.

The Board also committed to an independent review of the capability and capacity of the ICC's anti-corruption measures to deal with the challenges of corruption in the sport.

At the meeting, the Board received an update on spot-fixing allegations against three Pakistan players during a recent tour to England. Under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, the players ? Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif ? were provisionally suspended from all cricket.

In accordance with the provisions of the code, all three have appealed that provisional suspension and an independent hearing will take place in Doha, Qatar, on 30 and 31 October and will be chaired by the head of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff, QC.

As has been the case up to now, comment from the ICC on this issue will be strictly limited so as not to prejudice the case.

ICC President Sharad Pawar said: "We reiterated our support for the strong and decisive action which was necessary to protect the integrity of the great game of cricket. We have stressed, without any comment on the present case, that we will not tolerate any form of corruption in cricket and that we will work tirelessly to root out those who have acted in a way which brings cricket into disrepute.

"The future of our great sport depends on the public maintaining their confidence in the games they are watching. We owe it to every player, administrator, every cricket lover to win this battle against a very small minority who may wish to corrupt this game. The matter of integrity is non-negotiable. Integrity and honesty are the bedrock of our game and ICC will protect that foundation stone with everything at its disposal."

The board reiterated its message of zero tolerance towards corruption; of a need to protect the integrity of the game; a defendable process and availability of a proportionate but strong and effective deterrent. At the same time it heard the Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) had begun reviewing and upgrading its protocols and procedures.

Member Boards were instructed and agreed to undertake independent enquiries into any substantive allegations of corruption within the domestic game, unless there are credible disciplinary processes already contained within the constitutions of those Member Boards.

Chairman of the ACSU Sir Ronnie Flanagan the unit's General Manager, Ravi Sawani, attended the Board meeting and updated the Board on the unit's enhanced competency-based education process, a request that the ICC Anti-Corruption Code be mirrored by all Members, the investigation of a player accreditation scheme, the employment of regular team managers, establishing an ethic and culture of accountability within teams, increased interaction with betting companies and sports integrity units.

The ACSU, which is rated as a leading anti-corruption unit in world sport, will also address capacity issues and staffing levels within the unit as a part of its internal review.

A series of measures were approved by the ICC Board to deal with the challenge and to assist the Pakistan Cricket Board, who have agreed to the following measures. These are:

1. ICC Board to issue a broad advisory to all players reminding them of their individual and collective obligations to ensure that the integrity of the game is upheld and the severe consequences of a failure to do so.

2. PCB must act and be seen to be acting to uphold the zero-tolerance attitude to corruption in sport. In this regard, the PCB is required to conduct a thorough review of player integrity issues across all authorised cricket in Pakistan and report back to the Pakistan Task Team within 30 days, including that they have achieved the following:

* The implementation of a competency-based education programme for all registered players

* The implementation of a proper, accountable and robust disciplinary process for the sport

* The implementation of a deterrent and detection process to protect the game from corrupt elements, whether it be players, officials, agents or any other individual

* The introduction of a domestic anti-corruption code which mirrors the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

3. PCB shall desist from taking any actions which might put themselves in a conflict of interest position as regards the allegations that are the subject of disciplinary proceedings.

4. PCB must strongly encourage their players to provide any relevant information to the ACSU on a confidential basis. Any player who comes forward and in that process incriminates himself could, under the ?Substantial Assistance' provisions of the Anti-Corruption Code, seek to use his co-operation as a mitigating factor in the consideration of appropriate sanctions.

5. PCB should desist from making public comments and disclosing confidential information which undermine the integrity, reputation and image of the game and/or any ongoing disciplinary or criminal investigation/proceedings.

6. At the same time the Pakistan Task Team will be authorised by the ICC Board, under a revised mandate, to undertake a review and provide a series of recommendations which will help PCB to:

* Carry out any reforms which may be deemed necessary to restore confidence in the administration of the game in Pakistan; and

* Deliver the above measures.

7. If the PCB fails to carry out the above to the satisfaction of the Board (acting in consultation with the Pakistan Task Team) within the next 30 days, the Board will consider what further action (including, if appropriate, sanctions) is required in the circumstances.

8. The Pakistan Task Team shall be reconstituted with the agreement of the Board.

Following extensive investigations into allegations about the One-Day International between England and Pakistan at The Oval in London on 17 September, the ACSU has verified all the available information and concluded that there was no compelling evidence to suspect individual players or support staff. The investigation is now complete but if new and corroborating evidence comes to light then clearly the ACSU will re-open the matter.

Peter Chingoka, an ICC Director, has been appointed as a member of the Pakistan Task Team to replace Mr Ray Mali, the former ICC President.

Future Tours Programme 2012-2020 and context for international cricket

The Board approved the recommendations from the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC), which met in Cape Town last month. These recommendations seek to give exciting content and context for international cricket within the Future Tours Programme (FTP) after 2012 and also to consider future ICC events.

Specifically, the ICC Board has approved the following recommendations from CEC:

1. The FTP should consist of a Test league to provide context for all Test matches. The league would determine the top four teams to qualify for an ICC Test play-off

2. The play-off should be held once every four years to determine the Test champion team with a request to hold the first such play-off in 2013

3. The FTP should also consist of a One-Day International league, the first to run from April 2011 until April 2014, culminating in the crowning of an ODI league champion. This would run separate to the ICC Cricket World Cup

4. The ICC Cricket World Cup should consist of a 10-team format from 2015

5. The ICC World Twenty20 should consist of a 16-team format from 2012, with the women's event continuing to run alongside

6. The introduction of Twenty20 International rankings table as soon as this is justifiable.

The Board agreed that any discussion of performance-related ranking and the issue of qualification for ICC global events, including finding opportunities for Associate Members to play ODI cricket, should be considered by the ICC Governance Committee and a recommendation brought back to the Board.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Restructuring international cricket is a significant strategic challenge and one that must be dealt with. We have now agreed in principle to exciting and far-reaching proposals to tackle this most important issue.

"Achieving balance and unanimous agreement is not easy but we have responded well to a strategic priority to restructure international cricket. The proposals, especially introducing more meaningful context, means we now have the potential to follow international cricket that is even more exciting."

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

The ICC Board was given an update on the excellent progress being made towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

Mr Lorgat said: "We are pleased with the considerable progress made particularly in the areas of venue preparation and security.

"The ICC Cricket World Cup is the ICC's flagship event which will provide a showcase for some of the best players who have ever played this great game and it will also provide the world with a glimpse of the colour and passion for cricket that exists in the host nations.

"This is an exciting time for cricket. We have just witnessed two thrilling Test matches between India and Australia which have demonstrated the strength and the enduring appeal of the longest form of the game. We have some more mouthwatering contests such as the Ashes and India's visit to South Africa, the top two teams in the world, before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

"Earlier this year we witnessed the West Indies stage a wonderfully successful ICC World Twenty20 and now we have the prospect of a truly spectacular ICC Cricket World Cup, the opening match of which will take place in Dhaka on 19 February when Bangladesh takes on India. To us, this demonstrates the viability and continued success of the three formats of our great sport."

Cricket development in China and USA

The ICC Board heard reports from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief executive, Ashraful Huq, on cricket development in China and also from Justin Vaughan, the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) CEO.

NZC has a principle partnership agreement with the United States Cricket Association and will report on progress of the game in America. ICC President Sharad Pawar believes that both Members should be a focus of the ICC Board, which expressed continued support for the global development of cricket. The need to engage expert consultants and staff within China and the United States will be discussed within the parameters of the next ICC Strategic Plan 2011-15, which was also progressed at the ICC Board meeting.

Strategic Plan

On the ICC Strategic Plan the Board agreed that it would dedicate a meeting to addressing the key questions that need to be answered in finalising the ICC Strategic Plan 2011-15.

Decision Review System (DRS)

The three host countries confirmed to the ICC Board that the Decision Review System (DRS) should be used in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka subject to ensuring the reliability of ball-tracking technology. The Board agreed that Hotspot technology would also be used in the semi-finals and final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Mr Lorgat said: "I have agreed with Cricket Australia to attend the Ashes matches between Australia and England with representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to understand the successful application of the technology and its contribution to correct umpiring decisions."

The ICC Executive Board also agreed to explore sponsorship for the DRS and the revenues generated from this will be distributed among those Members who have pooled their rights, after costs have been deducted. Members who do not pool their rights will be free to exploit such rights themselves.

ICC headquarters

Following due diligence, the ICC Board decided that the ICC headquarters should remain in Dubai. The matter of relocation is now closed.

The decision came on the day that the ICC Global Cricket Academy, adjacent to the ICC Headquarters, was opened in association with Dubai Sports City. The ICC Board, which includes the ICC Chief Executive, attended the opening.

Mr Lorgat added: "This provides welcome certainty for the staff and I am personally delighted that this matter has finally been resolved."