Strauss urges ICC to act decisively against corruption

LONDON - England skipper Andrew Strauss has urged the International Cricket Council that “never again” should the shadow of corruption be allowed to harm the game of cricket, as Pakistan cricket was embroiled in another controversy after pacer Shoaib Akhtar was caught on camera tampering with the ball.

After wrapping up the NatWest ODI Series 3-2 with a 121-run victory over Pakistan, Strauss said that his team had been under immense pressure this summer, and added that unless the ICC acts fast and decisively, corruption will choke the game.

“This summer has clearly demonstrated that when there is a sniff of something in the air, it devalues the whole game,” The Daily Express quoted Strauss, as saying.

“Nobody wants to play cricket in those circumstances. The ICC must leave no stone unturned as we need to be 100 per cent sure that every game of cricket from now on is not tarnished.

“I am very keen never to have a repeat of this at any time in the future which is why it is so important that the ICC take a strong lead and not a breather now the series has finished,” he said. (ANI)