Cricket probe 'hit by apathy and fear'

A climate of silence, apathy, ignorance and fear is hampering attempts to rid cricket of match-fixing.

That is the damning verdict from Lord Condon who today published his report into cricket corruption.

He makes it clear that match-fixing is still going on and that he is being hampered by the attitude of people within the game.

The report says: "Some people were apathetic and thought corruption would always be present, in some form or another, in international cricket. Ignorance has also been the enemy of a more robust approach from within cricket.

"I have spoken to worldly-wise and mature individuals whom I genuinely believe had no idea what was going on, in terms of corruption, even though it took place close to them.

"The most disturbing aspect of the tolerance of corruption is the fear some people have expressed about their safety or the safety of their families.

"I have spoken to people who have been threatened and others who have alleged a murder and a kidnapping linked to cricket corruption."

The report also condemns the authorities.

It says: "With the benefit of knowledge now in the public domain, a compelling case is made that the ICC and the individual cricket boards could and should have done more to deal with the problem of corruption at an earlier stage."