ICC steps up bid to clean up the game

International cricket is increasing its efforts to drive cheating, abuse of opponents and corruption out of the game.

Sledging, unsportsmanlike behaviour and unnecessary appealing are all being targeted by the International Cricket Council, which has underlined its determination to eradicate the shame of bribery from the world game.

The elite panel of eight Test-match umpires and five referees are being encouraged to come down hard on offenders.

The ICC are in the process of handing them more power by taking suspended sentences out of the range of punishments and removing the limits which restrict them to fining offenders a maximum of 75 per cent of match fees or banning them for no more than three Tests or six one-day games.

"There will be no upper limit on fines and suspensions. We have also asked the Board to remove the discretion to impose a suspended sentence, a soft option that has been used far too often in the past," said Malcolm Speed, who was appointed ICC chief executive in July.

"International cricket is fiercely competitive. We do not seek to change that at all. What we seek is to remove sledging and excessive appealing from the game. We would like to see more players walk when they know they are out."

The ICC are putting a burden of responsibility to clean up the game on Test captains, who recently responded positively to an ICC survey, including one who suggested all players, umpires and administrators should undergo liedetector tests every six months.

"Several made very useful comments about areas in which we need to work together, specifically in ridding the game of corruption," said Speed.