Post Brendon McCullum's reproach, anti-corruption key issue at ICC meet

Dubai: The smooth functioning of the Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), and uniform use of Decision Review System (DRS) are two key issues that will be addressed by the members during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh (UK) from 27 June to 2 July. [caption id=“attachment_2617192” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Brendon McCullum had criticised ICC’s stance on corruption in his MCC lecture. AFP[/caption] Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, while delivering the “MCC Spirit of Cricket” lecture recently, had criticised ICC ACSU officer’s “casual approach” when he gave evidence of alleged corrupt practices by teammate Chris Cairns. “Looking back on this, I am very surprised by what I perceive to be a very casual approach to gathering evidence. I was reporting two approaches by a former international star of the game. I was not asked to elaborate on anything I said and I signed a statement that was essentially nothing more than a skeleton outline,” McCullum had stated then. Not surprising that ICC mandarins led by chairman Shashank Manohar would like to revisit their ACSU structure and its working. The other important aspect is uniformity in usage of DRS during bilateral series. As of now, all the Test series involving India do not have DRS as the BCCI is opposed to it. However, there are reports that BCCI may rethink their decision if the contentious leg-before dismissal is kept out of the DRS ambit as the ball-tracking technology, many believe is not foolproof. Some of the other issues on the agenda are ICC Cricket Committee Recommendations on dimension of cricket bats (reduction of thickness of sweet spot), pink ball day/night Test matches, membership of Saudi Arabia, USA Cricket Association and Cricket Association of Nepal.