ICC plans major intervention to tackle franchise cricket corruption
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is establishing new strategies to combat significant corruption and illegal betting concerns within global franchise cricket tournaments.
Internal documentation seen by BBC Sport reveals the sport’s integrity unit has reported growing evidence of illicit infiltration.
Corrupters are infiltrating leagues and players across a number of different member territories.
The global governing body is planning to form a working party to harmonise the international calendar and examine robust anti-corruption measures.
Expanded powers to sanction leagues
The executive committee is currently discussing wider mitigation strategies during their annual general meeting in Edinburgh.
These steps include expanding the parameters for when the global authority must officially sanction a domestic league.
Under current regulations, approval for non-full member countries is only required if a tournament features more than four recently capped international players.
Officials are also considering increasing their powers to intervene directly where integrity issues remain unaddressed.
Illegal betting sponsorship threat
Alongside direct infiltration, severe concerns have been raised regarding the surge of illegal betting sponsorships within franchise competitions.
The governing authority notes that these commercial partnerships expose host members to the risk of facilitating unlawful wagering.
This carries the potential for increased corruption.
Mauritius gains membership amid governance disputes
Elsewhere on the agenda, the island nation of Mauritius will be formally elected as a new member on Saturday.
Applications from Colombia, Poland, Latvia, Burundi and Burkina Faso were rejected for failing to meet strict membership criteria.
Meanwhile, USA Cricket and Cricket Canada remain suspended due to ongoing governance disputes.
The French cricket board is also facing potential disciplinary action over whether its executive structure remains fit for purpose.
France recently competed as a generic ‘France XI’ against Portugal after losing official status with their national sports ministry.
Finally, developments are being closely monitored at the Italian Cricket Federation following multiple board resignations shortly after the T20 World Cup.