Cricket stepping up fight against match-fixers at new Twenty20 event in Dubai

The ICC has strengthened its anti-corruption enforcement for the latest global franchise tournament which starts in Dubai on Friday.

sports mail revealed last week that the ICC had launched an investigation into six incidents of alleged corruption at a T10 tournament in Abu Dhabi.

That has led to a greater presence of anti-corruption officers for the ILT20 in Dubai, which has 20 players from England.

The ICC has strengthened its anti-corruption enforcement for the latest global white ball franchise tournament, the ILT20, which begins in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Friday.

Sportsmail revealed last week that the ICC, cricket’s governing body, had launched an investigation into six incidents of alleged corruption at a T10 tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Joe Root will make his first non-domestic T20 appearance in four years when he plays for the Dubai Capitals against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in today’s opening game, with the ICC watching closely.

They will have six anti-corruption managers at each game, an increase from the four on duty at the T10 tournament, as well as an intelligence officer and investigator who will oversee the entire competition.

The enormous growth of short-form franchise leagues has been accompanied by an increase in betting activity, much of which is unregulated, raising concerns about corruption.

The ICC investigation focuses on the level of betting activity and reports of questionable activity surrounding the teams. There is no suggestion that any of the players pictured above are involved.

ICC is investigating six allegations of corruption at a T10 competition in Abu Dhabi that was won by the Deccan Gladiators, above. There are no indications of any wrongdoing on the part of its players.

The ILT20 is one of four franchise competitions taking place this month, along with the Big Bash, the Bangladesh Premier League and the SA20 in South Africa, with the result that resources are being spaced out.

The anti-corruption safeguards in place vary from tournament to tournament, a problem exacerbated by the fact that ICC regulations allow full member countries to run their own programs.

With the financially stretched Bangladesh Cricket Board in charge, there is only one anti-corruption manager at every game in the BPL, for example.