Icc Chief Welcomes Prison For Spot-fixers

International Cricket Council chief Haroon Lorgat has revealed that he
would welcome a prison sentence for Mervyn Westfield, after the former
Essex player pleaded guilty to taking corrupt payments earlier this
month.

Lorgat told the BBC that a jail term could help the fight against corruption in sport.

The
recent case follows the corruption trial resulting from Pakistan’s 2010
series in England – which ended with three test cricketers, Salman
Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, all receiving jail sentences for
their part in a spot-fixing conspiracy.

Westfield is due to be sentenced on 10th February, and is the first English cricketer to be convicted of spot-fixing.

Lorgat
said: ‘If what happens to him is what happened to the Pakistan players a
lot more attention will be paid to the fact you can end up in jail.’

The
ICC chief also expressed his concern that tightening up on spot-fixing
on the international circuit could lead to it spreading into the
domestic game.

Lorgat is set to step down from his position at
the ICC in June this year and admitted to the BBC that the spot-fixing
activity has been the most significant challenge during his time in the
role.