By Khawaja Ahmad Ali

It’s official. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has lost it. The ICC high officials don’t seem to have a clue as to what is going on in the world game yet they seem determined to damage the game beyond repair. What was the need to announce with great fan fair that they have launched an investigation into the third one-day international (ODI) between hosts England and Pakistan?

If they have any proof they should act and charge. Right now it seems that they are on the defensive and are trying to portray some sense of control that they obviously do not have. If they have to launch an investigation anytime it should be what in the world the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) is doing? Do they only wake up when a tabloid releases garbage? Maybe the ICC should hire tabloid reporters to work in the ACSU!

It seems the ICC is hostage to some dark power. When the Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched Test players from around the world condemned the rush for money that was afflicting the sport. All manner of wrongdoing has been overlooked by the ICC in the IPL and yet it banned the Indian Cricket League (ICL) exposing its preferences to whoever paid the most. The involvement of Allen Sanford, the disgraced American billionaire, with the game is another sad documentary of the ICC overlooking ethics for monetary considerations.

The ICC was made aware of spot-fixing in 2003. What it has done? When South Africa’s Hansie Cronje died mysteriously the ICC never launched an investigation then. Only when Pakistan score victories the ICC goes to the press. It seems their pious officials think just attack Pakistan and all is well.

All countries have been targeted by bookmakers. Since the latest allegations surfaced nearly every country has reported that their players have been approached in the past. What rock the ICC was hiding behind? Why their officials are so incapable of even the basic responsibilities of a global governing body? How many people at the ICC have actually played cricket?

The ICC acted with blatant haste when it suspended three Pakistan players. Instead of trying to show some authority in the face of criticism the ICC officials just tried to save their own skins. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat was on board with all the developments taking place. The PCB and the Pakistan High Commission in Britain had kept him updated yet he still jumped the gun and suspended the players despite the fact that no evidence existed.

Lorgat seems desperate to save his own job rather than work for the benefit of the game. Shouldn’t the ICC launch an investigation into why Scotland Yard searched player’s rooms and locked their dressing rooms without informing the individual boards? Was the ICC asleep then too? The world cricket body has failed miserably. They are unable to deal with the issues in modern cricket. It seems fat paychecks have detracted the ICC bosses’ ability to do anything progressive. The ICC needs to be reformed before it does any more damage to the world game.