Domestic T20 Leagues at Risk Alex Marshall, head of global cricket’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), has warned that poorly managed domestic T20 leagues at lower levels pose a significant corruption threat. Corrupt individuals see these leagues as an entry point into cricket.
Marshall’s Retirement Marshall, 63, will retire from his role in November after seven years with the ICC. He began his tenure in 2017, managing the ICC’s integrity unit, which oversees security, anti-doping, and corruption prevention.
Focus on Family A former senior UK policeman, Marshall informed the ICC of his retirement, citing a desire to spend more time with family in England. He was the fourth ACU head, succeeding YP Singh, and was selected by Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
Progress Against Corruption Marshall expressed pride in improving player trust. Players now report corrupt approaches more frequently, unlike before when they doubted confidentiality. Corrupt individuals have been named, banned, and disrupted. Education efforts have also better equipped players to resist corruption.
Major Sri Lanka Investigations After assuming his role in 2017, Marshall led probes into corruption in Sri Lanka. The ACU collaborated with the country’s top officials, including the President and Prime Minister. Their efforts led Sri Lanka to become the first South Asian country to criminalize match-fixing offenses.
Improved Situation in Sri Lanka Marshall acknowledged significant progress in Sri Lanka. He said stronger local measures and ICC support have made the country better equipped to keep corruption at bay.
Key Sanctions Several Sri Lankan players, including former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, were charged under the ACU code. Jayasuriya received a two-year ban for not cooperating in investigations.
Other notable sanctions included bans for Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Zimbabwe’s Heath Streak. Shakib was banned in 2019 for failing to report three approaches from a corruptor. Streak received an eight-year ban in 2021 for multiple breaches, including accepting bitcoin payments.
Final Warning As he departs, Marshall cautioned that corrupt individuals still seek entry into cricket. He emphasized that poorly managed franchise T20 leagues, beyond the ICC ACU’s oversight, remain vulnerable to corrupt activities. “Corruptors will always seek weak points in the system,” he warned.