England get Facebook warning over illegal betting from cricket corruption squad
July 24, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
By
Peter Hayter
Last updated at 12:20 AM on 24th July 2011
England paceman Jimmy Anderson revealed that players have been warned by the ICC of the danger of internet ‘grooming’ by illegal bookmakers via Facebook and other social networking sites.
The threat of corruption posed by illegal betting networks based largely in India and exposed by ICC
bans on Pakistan’s Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Amir, was raised again last week by former Australian captain Steve Waugh.
He claimed that 56 international players had reported approaches from bookmakers in the past year.
Caught in the web: James Anderson (left) said England’s cricketers have been warned about Facebook
Anderson underlined the extent of the threat by revealing the advice given to international players by
the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) regarding approaches from bookmakers in person or using social networking sites.
Anderson said: ‘We are regularly briefed by the ICC, told what to look out for and what constitutes
an approach.
‘There are strict ICC regulations about what to do if you are approached and we are all aware that
it’s an offence if you don’t inform the right people if it does happen.
‘They have been telling us what to look out for and that players have, in the past, been approached
by people through Facebook.
In the dock: Mohammad Amir (left), Salman Butt (right) and Mohammad Asif (behind) were all banned
‘What happens is that people approach players on the net asking to be friends, things progress from there over a period of time and the player is trapped.
‘I have not come across anything like that personally but we’ve been told that players have been approached in this way in the past.’
Anderson believes that despite the action against the Pakistan players, who received long bans, world cricket must continue to be vigilant.
He added: ‘When the ACSU people speak to us and tell us how big the underground betting is in India and elsewhere, it does make you realise what is actually happening out there.
Claim: Steve Waugh said 56 international players had reported illegal approaches in the last year
‘The claims over what is alleged to have happened at Lord’s last year came as a complete shock.
‘Although you hear about things that may have happened elsewhere, you never think it’s going to go on in a game that you play in.
‘It was surreal at the time and it is still hard to believe now.’
An ECB spokesman confirmed: ‘The ACSU provides players with ongoing briefings, including guidance in relation to social networking.’
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