Polygraphs may stump match fixers

CRICKET officials are considering using lie detectors to combat corruption.

After a meeting in Perth, the MCC wants further investigation into the use of the devices before a recommendation is forwarded to the International Cricket Council.

 Three Pakistan players-- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammas Amir -- were suspended this year for being implicated in a fixing scandal.

"The committee is concerned at the scale of the problem and the detrimental effect it has placed on the integrity of the game," the MCC said yesterday on their website.

"The committee feels more resources -- and increased powers -- are required to attempt to eradicate this issue from the game.

"Furthermore, the committee believes that team captains -- as enshrined in the Laws and Spirit of Cricket -- should accept greater responsibility for the conduct of their players."

A working party led by former Australian captain Steve Waugh also discussed the merits of not selecting players tainted by corruption, the inclusion of anti-corruption clauses in all professional playing contracts and legalising and regulating the betting markets in India.

The anti-corruption recommendations will be put to the MCC laws subcommittee for further consideration at their next meeting in February.

"If we have to take extreme measures in order to be 100 per cent confident the game is being played in the right spirit, then I'd certainly be happy to do that.

ICC wants universal anti-corruption code

Cricket's governing body on Sunday said every member board should introduce a code in their domestic cricket to support the fight against corruption.

Corruption has rocked international cricket with three Pakistani players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer - suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in September this year.

The suspension came following reports in British newspaper News of the World, claiming several Pakistani players, including the suspended trio, took money to obey orders from a bookmaker during the Lord's Test against England in August.

After a tele-conference of its board members the ICC issued a statement, saying that all member boards have agreed to introduce an anti-corruption code.

"All member boards have agreed unanimously that they should introduce an anti-corruption code for their domestic cricket which mirrors that of the ICC by 1 April 2011," said the statement.

The ICC had already asked all the member countries to sign a declaration that they and their players will share any information on corruption with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat stressed the need for protecting the game from the menace.

"ICC has a zero-tolerance towards corruption and we will do everything we can to protect the integrity of our great sport. All members have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership and good practice in protecting the integrity of the sport at domestic and international level."

Lorgat said the PTT and Board members have appreciated steps taken by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and denied that the ICC will force selection matters on them.

India-Australia series a saviour: Lawson

Three Pakistani players - Test captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif - have been suspended over spot-fixing allegations during the Lord's Test against England.

Lawson, a former Australian fast bowler who coached Pakistan in 2007-2008, said cricket needed a series of riveting matches to restore fans' faith in the game.

"Cricket is a very resilient sport. What is needed urgently is a tough, hard series of Test cricket. And the game will move on," Lawson told reporters in Mumbai late on Tuesday.

Lawson said Australia's two Tests against the top-ranked Indians next month, followed by three one-day internationals, were crucial for the health of the game.

"This India-Australia series is very important," he said.

"People in Australia are looking forward to the Ashes. A good, tough and hard series before the Ashes will do a lot to retain people's faith in the game.

"If players play good cricket and the public see good cricket, they will forget what's gone on before. The people want their heroes to play well. There wasn't a hero in this controversy," said Lawson.

Ricky Ponting's Australia will arrive in India on September 21 and play two back-to-back Tests in Mohali (October 1-5) and Bangalore (Oct 9-13).

The Tests will be followed by one-day matches in Kochi (Oct 17), Visakhapatnam (Oct 20) and Goa (Oct 24).

Australia will then return home to prepare for the Ashes series against England starting in Brisbane on November 25.