"Undercover agents" just a thought, says Lorgat

Mumbai:

Facing flak for mulling use of undercover agents posing as bookies to test players' honesty, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday said it was just a suggestion and nothing has been finalised on the issue.

"It's not a plan at the moment. There was a lot of suggestion or thinking that was going on. One such suggestion was to consider some sort of undercover player that would ensure the players report what they are obliged to do," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

"It's only a thought at this stage and I might say it's not a bad thought," he added.

The proposal had not gone down well with the Australian and England Cricketers' Associations, who had cast doubts on the viability of such a plan.

Lorgat also expressed satisfaction at the action taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board in implementing the ICC guidelines, following the spot-fixing scandal in which three of its players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir -were the accused.

"I am very encouraged to see the way PCB has responded. They had always said that they would take a zero tolerance approach to it. We now see that they are actually implementing it. I am very happy to see that," he said.

Lorgat said that the tainted trio would have a chance to appeal against the provisional suspension imposed on them before the ICC Code of Conduct Commission head Michael Beloff in Doha, Qatar on October 30 and 31.

"(We) want to stick to the process because that matter is sub judice and is being heard in Qatar on October 31. The process is simple and they appealed against the provisional suspension and that will be laid before Michael Beloff. He has listened to their submission and will make his final independent judgement," Lorgat said.

The three players were suspended by the ICC last month after British tabloid 'News of the World' claimed that they had taken bribes from bookies to bowl no balls in the fourth Test against England at Lord's in late August.

Asked about Australian batsman Michael Hussey's statement that the ICC rankings did not reflect the true picture of the teams, Lorgat said, "It's interesting, we never heard of that as long as Australia was topping the table. We never said that it was the perfect system. But it is as accurate and as best judgement of any team. I have the confidence in it."