Alex Marshall issues warning about Franchise Cricket as he retires from his post of the head of the Anti-Corruption unit.
“Badly run” domestic T20 leagues “at lower level” are still a “threat” to the game, according to Alex Marshall. Marshall, sixty-three, has made the decision to leave the ICC in November, capping a seven-year tenure that began in 2017.
Marshall, a former top UK police officer, recently informed the ICC of his decision, stating that he want to spend more time in England with his family, which included his parents and grandchildren. The independent chairman of the anti-corruption watchdog, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, shortlisted Marshall, the fourth ACU head who succeeded YP Singh.
Even though Marshall acknowledged that corruption would always be a problem for cricket, he was “proud” that the ACU had been able to encourage players to be more transparent when approached by those who would commit corruption.
“I am proud of the significant increase in trust from players who now report approaches to us frequently whereas there was a time when they lacked confidence in confidentiality and the action that will be taken.
“They have now seen corruptors being disrupted, named, banned when they get involved in cricket. And the education we now do with players shows them who the corruptors are, what their methods are, so everyone is much better equipped and protected to keep corruption away from the game.”
Marshall expressed his satisfaction with the advancements made in Sri Lanka. He believes that there are now better barriers in place to keep out unscrupulous people.
“Sri Lanka turned out to be a good news story because there were serious issues which were addressed locally and with ICC,” he said. “Now with the legislation and stronger measures Sri Lanka is in a much better place to keep the corruptors away.”
Marshall has some advice for people who manage, play, and administer cricket as he gets ready to depart the ICC. The corrupt elements are still out there, just waiting for a chance to get inside the system. Marshall emphasised that “badly” run T20 franchise leagues were one of those possibilities.
“I am confident that the cricket you watch is safe and clean,” Marshall said. “But I am also absolutely sure that corruptors are constantly looking for a route into the game. Particularly in badly-run lower-level franchise leagues. The threat to the game is corruptors won’t go away while there is always money to be made. And they will look for weakness in the system to get in.”