BBC SPORT | CORRUPTION IN CRICKET | ICC awaits decision day

Following Sir Paul Condon's damning report into match-fixing, world cricket's governing body has given itself less than a month to decide what happens next.

The International Cricket Council will make no further statement until after its executive board has met on 18 June.

At the meeting, president Malcolm Gray and the board members will decide when Sir Paul is next to report and what immediate - by bureaucratic standards - action needs to be taken.

It has become apparent that the present structure of ICC is inadequate to run international cricket

ICC statement

Sir Paul is scheduled to complete his investigation by the next World Cup, in South Africa in 2003, and his team have already moved on to the next stage.

They are currently visiting Pakistan for the first time since the Anti-Corruption Unit was established.

The ICC will be under pressure to act swiftly and decisively following their meeting and they also face a call to restructure their own body.

This has come most notably from the Code of Conduct Commission - a body set up by the ICC.

The commission, chaired by Lord Griffiths and including Richie Benaud, has passed on Sir Paul's report with a glowing endorsement, backing all 24 of his recommendations.

And in particular they stressed the need for the ICC itself to be reformed.

Richie Benaud
Australian legend Benaud is on the commission
"It has become apparent that the present structure of ICC is inadequate to run international cricket," stated the Commission.

"There is no point in lamenting that this has not been the case in past years; it is a matter of getting it right now and for the future.

"To this end the recommendations in this report for the future of ICC must be tackled as a matter of urgency.

"It is time for all countries to ensure that cricket again becomes paramount, and that in the fight against corruption and match-fixing, national pride and embarrassment come a poor second."

Malcolm Speed, currently chief executive of the Australian Cricket Board, is set to take over a similar role at the ICC in July.

He faces the immense task of implementing these recommendations, but could prove the ideal man for the job.

ICC President Malcolm Gray is under fire
Speed has improved Australia's response to the match-fixing crisis since they covered up fining Mark Waugh and Shane Warne.

With the media vultures circling he made the decision to go public in 1998 and described the board's action four years previously as "clearly inappropriate".

But perhaps more importantly he has a background outside the sport, having made his name with a successful spell in charge of the Australian National Basketball League and Basketball Australia.

He is acknowledged as a strong character and the fact that he succeeds Dave Richards, another Australian, is a reflection of the esteem in which he is held in the sport.

But in the meantime the ICC faces a fraught few weeks as it decides on a long overdue salvage operation.


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