- Title: ICC anti-corruption chief says no complacency around Champions Trophy
- Date: 25th May 2017
- Summary: FANS WATCHING THE MATCH AND CELEBRATING THE WIN OVER AJAX (3 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 8th June 2017 16:00
- Keywords: Flanagan Champions Trophy ICC
- Location: LONDON AND MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK; STOCKHOLM SWEDEN; LAHORE, PAKISTAN
- City: LONDON AND MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK; STOCKHOLM SWEDEN; LAHORE, PAKISTAN
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Cricket,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0026IC5EF3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ronnie Flanagan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption chief, said on Thursday (May 25) that "sport can be a wonderfully positive influence in the face of adversity".
Flanagan, who was the Home Office Chief of Constabulary and Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, was at a press conference to talk about his anti-corruption work within cricket, but he was inevitably asked his opinion about safety following the attack in Manchester on Monday (May 22) and with the Champions Trophy beginning in London next Thursday (June 1).
"You know, in my experience, sport can be a wonderfully positive influence in the face of adversity and in the face of terrorism," said Flanagan. "We've seen that in South Africa. I saw it first-hand in Ireland, and Manchester has shown, to the admiration of the world over the past few days, that however diverse Manchester is as a city, it's united against that adversity and terrorism, and I would be certain that in Manchester, there will be supporters of every one of our eight teams playing in this tournament. So perhaps this tournament just might offer a little opportunity to break through the gloom in some small way."
When asked if he was aware of any possible attempts to corrupt the Champions Trophy, he said that while there was no specific intelligence so far, he pointed out that they would not be complacent following the case earlier this year in the Pakistan Super League which saw fast bowler Mohammad Irfan suspended over spot-fixing allegations.
He was also asked to comment on New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum, who gave evidence in 2015 in the match-fixing case of his former team-mate Chris Cairns. McCullum had been unhappy with how he was treated by the ICC, but Flanagan said that Cairns' case was a police matter which had limited the ICC's involvement in the case. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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