Cricket ‘Big Three’ to see powers reduced by ICC – Cleary banned for betting

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb 4, (Agencies): The power of India, Australia, and England in world cricket is set to be reduced as part of wide-ranging reform measures by the sport’s governing body to improve its image.

“No member of the ICC is bigger than the other,” ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said following a meeting of the International Cricket Council board in Dubai on Thursday.

The board agreed to approve changes that would remove the permanent positions for officials from India, Australia, and England in the executive committee and financial committee.

In a statement, the ICC said there will be a “complete review” of the constitution drawn up in 2014 that favored the so-called “Big Three” in world cricket, “with a view to establishing governance, finance, corporate and cricketing structures that are appropriate and effective for the strategic role and function of the ICC and all of its members.”

It was proposed that a new ICC chairman will be elected by the board on a two-year term starting in June, in a process overseen by an independent audit committee. While in office, the chairman “will not be allowed to hold any post with any member board,” and can be re-elected for a maximum limit of three terms.

“We had very purposeful and positive meetings, and the decisions taken clearly reflect that we collectively want to improve the governance in a transparent manner, not only of the ICC but also the member boards,” Manohar said. “This, in turn, will enhance the image and quality of the sport.”

The ICC also announced that Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership has been reinstated in full following elections in the country.

Australia has banned women’s cricketer Piepa Cleary for six months, with another 18 months suspended, for placing bets on a men’s Test match between Australia and New Zealand in November.

The 19-year-old Cleary, who plays for Western Australia state, had placed six bets totalling A$15.50 ($11.10) on the match at Adelaide Oval.

“CA has imposed a 24-month period of ineligibility on Cleary of which 18 months are suspended on condition that she commits no further offences under the (Anti-Corruption) Code,” Cricket Australia said in a media release on Thursday.

“She is also required to participate in anti-corruption player education programs delivered by CA in future.”

The penalty bans Cleary from all domestic and international cricket, including cricket-related functions and events.

It follows a 24-month suspended sentence given to Sydney-based women’s cricketer Angela Reakes in December for placing five bets worth a total of A$9 on the man-of-the-match for the cricket World Cup final last March.

Cricket Australia said there were “aggravating factors” in Cleary’s case, including that she had received face-to-face anti-corruption training two months before she placed the bets.

“Bets totalling $15.50 might seem small but it doesn’t matter,” Cricket Australia Integrity Unit boss Iain Roy said.

“We take a zero tolerance approach to any form of gambling on cricket by players in order to protect the integrity of the game.”

Coach Darren Lehmann has been cleared to join Australia’s Test team in New Zealand after suffering from deep vein thrombosis, Cricket Australia said Thursday.

Lehmann has been sidelined since Jan 23 after he was admitted to a Sydney hospital with a swollen calf.

Batting coach Michael Di Venuto replaced him for Australia’s Twenty20 series against India and the one-day international tour of New Zealand, which started in Auckland on Wednesday.

All the games have been lost.

“Darren has received clearance from specialists in Australia to travel on Saturday and return to work,” Cricket Australia’s chief medical officer John Orchard said in a statement Thursday.

Lehmann will fly to Wellington and remain there until Australia’s first Test against New Zealand starts on Feb 12. The second Test is in Christchurch on Feb 20.

Di Venuto was confirmed as acting ODI coach for the Wellington match on Saturday and Hamilton on Feb 8. New Zealand thrashed Australia by 159 runs in the opening one-day international.

Meanwhile, Allrounder James Faulkner was ruled out of the remainder of Australia’s cricket tour to New Zealand after hurting his hamstring during its 159-run loss in the first one-day international on Wednesday.

Victoria’s Marcus Stoinis, a top-order batsman and medium-pacer who played his only previous ODI against England last year, was called into the squad ahead of veteran allrounder Shane Watson.

Faulkner faces a race against time to be fit to play in Australia’s Twenty20 series in South Africa which precedes next month’s World Twenty20 in India.

The injury to Faulkner, who plays a key finishing role in the team, would be a major blow to Australia’s World T20 hopes, as it has already lost captain Aaron Finch to a hamstring injury.

Australia is already struggling to bed in a new-look bowling attack after the retirement of Mitchell Johnson and injury to Mitchell Starc.

Australia has until Sunday to name its squad for the world tournament.

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