The ICC is planning to bring in stricter rules for franchise cricket because of growing concerns about betting and match-fixing. The issue was discussed during its Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. The governing body is reviewing measures to strengthen anti-corruption systems across domestic leagues. The ICC is also discussing changes to the approval process for new franchise tournaments.
Officials want stronger checks before allowing new leagues to operate, especially in non-full member nations, as the governing body looks to protect the integrity of the game and reduce corruption risks. The ICC is discussing stronger measures to tackle betting and match-fixing in franchise cricket during its Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. The governing body believes newly launched T20 leagues are more vulnerable to corruption and wants to strengthen anti-corruption measures.
ICC looking to tighten rules for franchise leagues
According to a BBC Sport report, the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit has found increasing signs that betting syndicates are targeting players and franchise leagues across several countries. To tackle the issue, the ICC is expected to set up a working group that will focus on tightening the rules around franchise cricket and improving anti-corruption measures.
The report stated, “In documentation seen by BBC Sport, the ICC’s integrity unit have reported there is ‘growing evidence’ that corrupters were ‘infiltrating leagues and players across a number of different member territories’.”
“The ICC are now planning to establish a working party which will seek to harmonise franchise cricket within the international calendar and examine how corruption could be tackled more effectively. As part of the steps taken to mitigate the concerns, the ICC’s executive committee will discuss a number of wider strategies during their ongoing annual general meeting (AGM) in Edinburgh.”
According to the report, the ICC also plans to make the approval process for new domestic franchise leagues more strict. Officials believe the current system allows non-Full Member countries to start new leagues too easily, increasing the risk of illegal betting and match-fixing. Under the existing regulations, a non-full member country can organize a franchise league if it signs more than four players from full-member nations who have represented their countries within the previous 24 months. The ICC is now considering stricter requirements before approving future tournaments.
The governing body also plans to establish a dedicated group to better align franchise leagues with the international calendar while strengthening oversight and anti-corruption measures across domestic cricket. The ICC recently suspended Cricket Canada for serious breaches of its membership rules. Reports claimed that concerns over possible match-fixing were one of the main reasons behind the decision, although the ICC did not mention this in its official statement. USA Cricket was also suspended last year, while France Cricket and Federazione Cricket Italiana are still being investigated over governance issues. Despite the suspension, Canada’s national teams will continue to take part in ICC tournaments.