Spot-Fixing: ECB Launches New Anti-Corruption Team

Spot-Fixing: ECB Launches New Anti-Corruption Team

Mervyn Westfield (right) lost an appeal against his conviction as the ECB unveiled plans for a new anti-corruption team

©REUTERS / Action Images

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has set up a new anti-corruption team which will closely monitor limited overs matches in domestic cricket.

The news comes on the same day that Mazhar Majeed and Mervyn Westfield both lost appeals against their sentences for involvement in separate spot-fixing cases.

The new ECB team will monitor 40 and 20-over matches in county cricket with a similar remit to that of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Regional Security Managers and they will work on both televised and non-televised matches.

The team will have seven member be overseen by Chris Watts, ECB's dedicated anti-corruption official.

"ECB has been at the forefront of efforts to stamp out corruption in cricket and the creation of a dedicated team of officials to monitor our domestic limited overs competitions demonstrates our determination to protect the integrity of the sport," ECB Chief Executive David Collier said.

"The team will be operative for a ten week period beginning with the first round of matches in this summer’s Friends Life t20 competition and ending with the final round of group matches in the CB40 competition.

"They will be a visible presence at matches and will act as a constant reminder to players, officials and club personnel of the need for constant vigilance with regard to this issue as we seek to identify, prevent and eradicate corrupt practises from our domestic game.

"Players from all 18 First Class Counties have recently participated in anti-corruption tutorial sessions and we will continue to work closely with the Professional Cricketers’ Association to enhance player education around this issue."

Majeed was sentenced in November to two years and eight months in prison having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to make corrupt payments, along with Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt.

Westfield was handed a four-month sentence after pleading guilty to spot-fixing elements of a match for Essex but has subsequently been released.

© Cricket World 2012