Cricket board says match-fixing still happening

Action from this week's England versus Pakistan cricket test in London, won by England

By CNN's Grant Holloway

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Corruption and match-fixing in cricket is still taking place, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The ICC report into cricket corruption released Wednesday says there has been a "dramatic growth" in match-fixing linked to illegal betting, with some players still "acting dishonestly and to the order of bookmakers".

In particular, the report cites the ICC Knockout tournament played last year and the New Zealand versus Pakistan test series played this year, as examples of continued allegations of match-fixing.

"Allegations have been made to my unit in relation to matches played in the ICC knockout tournament in Nairobi in October 2000 and more recently in relation to the New Zealand v Pakistan series in 2001," the report says.

"These allegations are being reviewed and full investigations will take place, if justified."

Cricket authorities could have done more

The report also acknowledges that the ICC and national cricket board could have done more to recognize that the corruption, which began at the County Cricket level in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, was happening, and act on the problem sooner.

Three former international cricket captains, Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Mohammad Azharuddin (India) and Salim Malik (Pakistan) have already been banned for life over allegations they took money to influence the outcomes of cricket games.

Current Australian test cricketer Mark Waugh is under separate investigation by the Australian Cricket Board following similar allegations made by an Indian bookmaker.

Compiled by former London police chief Paul Condon, the report makes 25 recommendations to address the match-fixing issues.

Recommendations go to June 18 meeting

The ICC said Wednesday it would discuss and review the recommendations and confirm what action it will take after its board meeting on June 18, but would not be commenting further on the issue until then.

In a video statement, ICC president Malcolm Gray said the June 18 meeting would be "a key moment in cricket's fightback against match-fixing".

"We want followers of the game to have no doubt that we are treating this issue with the utmost importance, and are taking real steps to eradicate it," he said.

Among the report's recommendations are:

* A comprehensive training and awareness program designed to raise awareness of the risks of corruption in cricket and the methods used to entice players and others into malpractise.

* ICC member countries should appoint a full time security manager.

* A sensible regime to manage and restrict the use of mobile telephones during international matches by players and others with insider information to avoid the perception or reality of improper release of information for betting purposes. * Consideration given to enhancing the role of the players and their representative bodies in the running of the ICC.

Australian chief praises Condon report

At a media conference in Melbourne, Australian Cricket Board chief Malcolm Speed said he was as "confident as he could be" that no Australians were currently involved in corrupt practises.

Speed said the Condon report "puts together a well thought out series of recommendations that show the way forward for cricket".

He said many of the recommendations had already been adopted by Australia but if further measures needed to be introduced then the ACB would do so.

"We have led the world in terms of the processes we have put in place," Speed said.

The key was to put procedures in place as much as possible whereby corrupt influences could be kept out of the game, he said.