dna has reliably learnt that the ICC and the CBI have proposed to enter into an agreement to ensure a seamless exchange of intelligence to "dismantle the organised global crime syndicates that have linkages to cricket".
Come 2016 Twenty20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will have none other than the premier investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on board to keep an eagle's eye on the bookies, match-fixers and other foul-players.
The ICC move was necessitated following allegations of spot-fixing or match-fixing haunting the world cricket, especially when there is a T20 match in India. Though a lot has been done in the past to fix the menace, the lack of law along with the executing agency has let many black sheep go scot-free in the past, starting from year 2000-accused Mohammad Azharuddin to 2013-jailed S Sreesanth.
dna has reliably learnt that the ICC and the CBI have proposed to enter into an agreement to ensure a seamless exchange of intelligence to "dismantle the organised global crime syndicates that have linkages to cricket".
The MoU, a copy of which is with the dna, is expected to be signed before the T20 World Cup, and will help at "disrupting the corrupt practices and culture in the sport of cricket".
The MoU speaks about attacking the financial base of crime via identification of assets potentially subject to confiscation, identify system vulnerabilities, identify areas and opportunities for policy and legislative reforms, cooperation and information exchange, and facilitate contact for representatives of the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), both via the information and law enforcement exchange.
The CBI already has a dedicated unit, Sports Frauds Investigation Office (SFIO), to look into the cases of corruption and match-fixing in sports. The SFIO works under the agency's Special Crime Branch with a DIG-level officer heading its team of investigators. The need for the SFIO arose after the 2013 spot-fixing and betting scandal in the IPL, which resulted in arrests of cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan.
The MoU "will target international and national crime syndicates, exploiting vulnerabilities in international sport... to identify, prevent and disrupt organised criminal activity". According to an official, one of its key purposes is to facilitate cooperation between the ICC and the CBI to support law enforcement activities.
"It allows the CBI to go for criminal prosecution, coronial enquiry, civil proceedings, disciplinary proceedings, alternative dispute resolution and mediation," he said.
The MoU is with the sports ministry for consideration. The ministry would be giving its opinion and also informing the two parties on the draft bill it has initiated for prevention of sports fraud after the report of match fixing in 2013 IPL. Though the ministry will inform the CBI that it has not given recognition to the BCCI, it may support the MoU to be signed between CBI and ICC. Interpol is also looking at a possible tie-up with the ICC and the BCCI to help fight match-fixing and illegal betting.
Currently, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Australian Federal Police and certain European countries have specialised units to check sports fraud.
What the MoU aims at
Disrupt corrupt practices
Attack financial base of crime
Dismantle organised crime syndicates
Identify system vulnerabilities
Identify areas for policy reforms
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