ICC takes steps towards more robust Anti-Corruption Code

London: The ICC today decided that a revised version of a more robust and strengthened ICC Anti-Corruption Code will be submitted for approval at the January 2014 meeting here. In its two-day meeting, the ICC Board received an update on the investigations into the Bangladesh Premier League 2013 in which the world body charged nine individuals with various offences. Seven were charged for fixing-related offences and the two others for failing to comply with their obligation to report corrupt approaches that were made to them. [caption id=“attachment_1182433” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The ICC has decided to give Bangladesh more time to complete their stadiums. Getty Images[/caption] The matter of Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir’s five-year ban also came up for discussion and the ICC Board decided to review it in due course after the revised Code was finalised and adopted. The outcomes of last month’s ICC Chief Executives’ Committee meeting that was held in Dubai, which covered issues like Umpires Decision Review System, Bad Light and the ODI playing conditions, were also discussed. The ICC Development International (IDI), the commercial arm of the ICC, reviewed an inspection report by its Venue Consultant on the venues for the World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 and accepted the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to extend the deadline for the completion of the stadia till 30 November this year. The format and schedule of the World Twenty20 will be announced in Dhaka on October 27. The IDI also approved the schedule of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2014 that will be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 14 to March 1. Sixteen sides, including 10 Full Members and six Associate and Affiliate Members, will take part in the tournament. India will defend the title it won in Australia last year. India was represented by BCCI President N Srinivasan, for whom it was his first ICC meeting since taking charge. Meanwhile, following on from Afghanistan’s qualification for the Cricket World Cup, the IDI Board approved a recommendation to increase the assistance provided to Afghanistan cricket through the Targeted Assistance Performance Programme (TAPP) by USD 1.1m. The Board also agreed that an ICC Chairman will be appointed after the Annual Conference 2014. PTI