Akram and Latif favour lie-detector tests

Pakistan's Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif have come out in support of a prominent Test captain's suggestion that players, umpires and administrators undergo lie-detector tests every six months.

"I have no problems with that if the purpose is to help clean the game of corruption," former Pakistan captain Akram said on Friday.

Latif, the Pakistan wicketkeeper who played a leading role in exposing match-fixing, said: "It is a good move. It might meet with resistance from some quarters. But they should go ahead with this plan."

The idea of lie-detector tests was made by "a prominent Test captain" in an International Cricket Council (ICC) survey, aimed at putting the burden of responsibility to clean up the game on the captains.

Akram, who was fined last year for not co-operating fully with a match-fixing inquiry commission in Pakistan, said he felt the legal ramifications of having players undergo lie-detector tests needed to be studied.

"I am all for it. But it would be better if the ICC first held more discussions with the senior players on this issue. The legal aspect of the issue has to be taken into consideration. Can the ICC subject players to lie-detector tests?"

Latif said: "It is a good idea. There might be some complications. But this is one way of further discouraging the corrupt in the game."

The ICC said recently its anti-corruption unit had discovered that millions of dollars were wagered on international matches.

Akram said there was a need for more communication between the ICC and international players.

"We share their concern about cleaning up the game. I would have no problems taking a lie-detector test. But first they must form a firm consensus on this issue before going ahead with it."

Cricket has been tarnished by match-fixing scandals in recent years, with former captains Salim Malik of Pakistan, Hansie Cronje of South Africa and Mohammad Azharuddin of India being banned for life for their involvement in corruption.

Pakistan is currently holding its second match-fixing judicial inquiry, in which Justice Karamat Bhandari is investigating allegations that two of Pakistan's matches in the 1999 World Cup, against Bangladesh and India, were fixed.

Mail Cricket Editor