MCC to propose lie-detector test for cricketers

PERTH - The Marylebone Cricket Club, the upholder of laws of cricket, is contemplating proposing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) institution of lie-detector tests for players to clean cricket of match-fixing.

“The MCC World Cricket Committee has recommended that the Laws of Cricket be amended specifically to forbid the corruption or attempted corruption of any aspect of a match,” the cricketing body said on its website (www.lords.org).

At its meeting here Wednesday, the committee said more deliberation was needed before a recommendation could be put forward to the ICC, possibly by February when they next meet.

“A wide range of proposals were discussed at the meeting including: the legalising and regulating of betting markets in India as proposed by the Delhi Court; the length of bans; non-selection of tainted players; the possible use of lie detector tests; the provision of integrity officers; and the inclusion of anti-corruption clauses in all professional playing contracts in all countries,” MCC said.

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh, who is head of the MCC World Cricket Committee’s anti-corruption group, said the lie-detector idea is one of several it will take to the ICC for implementation.

“The greatest issue facing the game right now is match-fixing,” Waugh said.

“How can we make players more accountable for their actions? Personally, I think if you’ve done nothing wrong, why wouldn’t you want to have a lie-detector test? You can’t make it compulsory but like I said, if you’ve got nothing to hide, why wouldn’t you take it? If we sit back and don’t do anything about corruption, it’s going to get worse,” he said.

The committee has set up a working party comprising Waugh, West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh, Keith Bradshaw and Barry Richards to look into it.

“The Committee is concerned at the scale of the problem, and the detrimental effect it has placed on the integrity of the game, MCC said.

The education of players should not be a meaningless formality; the message should be pressed home with regularity by figures known and respected by the players.

“Furthermore, the committee believes that team captains - as enshrined in the Laws and Spirit of Cricket - should accept greater responsibility for the conduct of their players.”

Cricket was rocked by another match-fixing scandal when Pakistan captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were suspended under the ICC anti-corruption code in September over allegations of spot-fixing against England.