Even though international and domestic cricket remains globally suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic, players are still best advised to be wary of the "corrupters", who are always seeking opportunities to ruin the sport, feels ICC anti-corruption chief Alex Marshall.
Marshall reckons it isn't prudent to assume that the lockdown will lead to any decline in spot and match-fixing approaches made to players, especially with no certainty on when the normalcy will return and social media providing greater connect with the players.
"COVID-19 may have put a temporary stop on the playing of international and domestic cricket around the world but the corrupters are still active," Marshall told the Guardian. "As a result, our work with members, players, player associations and agents continues."
With various cricket boards foreseeing heavy losses because of the game's suspension, players are being made to endure pay cut from their salaries for the bigger cause, which could make a few of those lower-paid ones vulnerable to go down the wrong path whenever the on-field play resume.
"We are seeing known corrupters use this time, when players are on social media more than ever, to connect with them and try to build a relationship that they can exploit at a later date," Marshall said.
"We have reached out to our members, players and their wider networks to highlight this issue and ensure they all continue to be aware of the dangers of approaches and do not let their guard down while there is no cricket being played."
(Inputs from AFP)
