AP, Sydney :The head of cricket’s anti-corruption unit has likened match fixers to pedophiles in the way they groom their victims.Speaking to reporters about match fixers on Friday, ahead of next week’s start of the cricket World Cup, Ronnie Flanagan said: “They’ll trick them, coerce them, try and attract them, they’re almost like pedophiles in how they attempt to groom people.”Flanagan said he is confident the International Cricket Council, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies, can ensure a World Cup free of corruption.He said the ICC has handed a watch list of 100 known match-fixers or “corrupters” who are banned from entering World Cup venues to the New Zealand and Australian governments. Players from the 14 competing nations will be reminded of their obligation to report suspicious behavior.All players will watch a video containing messages from Flanagan, other international players and disgraced Pakistan fast-bowler Mohammed Amir who was banned for five years for his involvement in spot fixing and warns players not to make the same mistake.Flanagan warns players of criminals who will “do all in their power to get at players” and to lure then “into ultimately doing what suits their nefarious intentions in terms of illegal betting and other elements of criminality.””I’m certain the players, match officials and support staff will be working very carefully in support of what we do and we’ll work in partnership to ensure (match-fixers) never get their way in this tournament,” he said.
