KARACHI: Former Pakistan Test captain Rashid Latif Monday questioned the ability and willingness of cricket's world governing body to stop match-fixing, saying tougher laws were needed to counter the menace.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provisionally suspended Pakistan's Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif after the three players were accused by British newspaper News of the World in a spot-fixing scandal.
“The ICC is not making tougher laws and that's why their role is questionable,” Latif told AFP. “I also doubt the sincerity of cricket boards and the ICC to put a lid on this wrongdoing.”
Latif, who played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals, announced his retirement in protest over suspicions of match-fixing on the 1994 tour of Zimbabwe.
He later appeared before Justice Malik Qayyum's commission and testified against fellow players, including then captain Salim Malik.
In 2000, India's police accused South African captain Hansie Cronje of corruption in cricket's biggest match-fixing scandal, forcing the ICC to form its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
Latif said the ACSU had failed to serve the purpose. “These ex-policemen (ACSU officials) may have been very good in their field, but cricket is a different ball game altogether and only a cricketer can see an irregularity during a match.
“(The ACSU) does not have the right to conduct raids or arrest people, what they only do is to ask players to avoid suspicious people. All in all, the unit is toothless, as their recourses are limited,” said Latif.
Latif said one-day and Twenty20 rules would have to be changed to minimise fixing.
“In my opinion, power plays in limited-over matches encourage spot-fixing, so there is a need to change the laws. I proposed changes in the rules some years back but the ICC did not pay attention to them.”
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