Smartphones? Not on our watch - ICC tells players

Smartphones? Not on our watch - ICC
tells players

Re

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has
warned players to stop wearing smartwatches
during play to avoid any allegations of match-
fixing, cricket’s governing body said on Friday.
Some Pakistan players were seen sporting the
devices during the opening day of their first
Test against England at Lord’s on Thursday
and were cautioned by an ICC anti-corruption
officer.
"Communications devices are prohibited within
the player and match officials area. No player
is allowed to be in possession of or use a
communications device which is connected to
the internet whilst there," the ICC said in a
statement here
“Smartwatches in any way connected to a
phone or Wi-Fi or in any way capable of
receiving communications are not allowed and
as such we will be reminding players that such
devices must be surrendered along with their
mobile devices on arrival at the ground on
match days.”
Pakistan bowler Hasan Ali was unsure which
of his team mates were involved, with British
media reports saying two players were
wearing the watches but there was no
suggestion of any wrongdoing as it was not
clear if they were connected to phones.
“I didn’t know who was wearing them but yes,
the ICC anti-corruption officer came to speak
to us and they told us this is not allowed,”
Hasan said after Pakistan dominated play,
bowling England out for 184 before reaching
50 for one at the close.
“Next time nobody will wear them.”
Only match officials are allowed specific
communication devices to communicate with
their colleagues while they perform their
duties.
Match-fixing has become a major concern for
the ICC in recent years with a high-profile
incident involving Pakistan on a previous tour
to England forming one of cricket’s low points.
Pakistani trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif
and Mohammad Amir, who is in the current
side, were part of a gambling-inspired plot to
bowl no-balls at pre-arranged times during a
Test match against England at Lord’s in
August 2010.
All three players served time in prison and
were handed multi-year bans from the game
after a tribunal found them guilty of spot-
fixing.
source: bdnews24