'$250 million bet on every one-dayer'

LONDON, OCT 9. About 250 million dollars are bet on every one-day cricket international, the head of the sport's world governing body, Malcolm Gray, said on Monday.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Gray told reporters at the launch of the ICC's new logo at Lord's that the figure had been established after investigations by its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

The unit was set up last year after former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje admitted to taking money from bookmakers. Cronje and two other former international captains, Salim Malik (Pakistan) and Mohammad Azharuddin (India), were subsequently banned for life.``The Anti-Corruption Unit estimated $250 million are bet on every one-day international with similar amounts on Test matches,'' Gray said.

Asked if the corruption scandal had affected sponsors' perception of cricket, Gray replied: ``Obviously yes. That was a great concern 16 months ago when it broke.''ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed said it was realistic to realise that betting on cricket matches would continue.``With regret we know that the same bookmakers and gamblers who have corrupted cricketers in the past remain operational,'' he said.

Speed said ACU head, Paul Condon, had stated that the ICC had successfully suppressed corruption.

``What he is unable to say at present is that we have defeated it,'' he said. ``But we are determined to do so and put in place a system that will ensure that no player, umpire or administrator can be in any doubt about what is expected of him by the game.''

Sri Lanka has withdrawn from a one-day series in Pakistan while the West Indies has postponed a decision on whether or nor it will fulfil its tour obligations early next year.

- Reuters

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