SIR RONNIE: DANGEROUS CRIMINALS IN SPORT
OVER THE MARK - Mohammad Amir's no-ball at Lord's
Anti-corruption chief's underworld warning to players
DANGERS - Sir Ronnie Flanagan
WORLD CRICKET'S anti-corruption chief has warned players tempted by the murky underworld of spot-fixing: You don't know who you're dealing with.
Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the man who helped bring peace to Northern Ireland during a 32-year career in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, talks of the potential dangers faced by players associating with criminals.
Flanagan's first month in charge of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has coincided with cricket's biggest scandal since the Hansie Cronje affair.
And former Australia star Geoff Lawson this week spoke of the kidnap threats made against a selector's daughter during his tenure as Pakistan coach.
Flanagan is at pains to stress the link between the criminal underworld and cricket remains to be proven and at NO point does he refer to the current ongoing investigation.
But from the experience of other sports, he admits the threat is out there.
"Absolutely we warn players of the dangers," he said.
"At this stage I have no personal knowledge or belief that this kind of thing is going on in cricket.
"But when you look at the wider sports world, some of these people are very nasty and have very dangerous connections. There is absolutely no doubt about that.
"I wouldn't want to overplay it, but look at approaches that have been made in the world of horse racing and in other areas of professional sport.
"Some of these people to whom I refer undoubtedly have very suspect connections with people who can be dangerous.
"The potential threat is there, undoubtedly.
"The threat to the game of course often comes from people outside the game of cricket who have no love for the game.
"These are people who have no respect for the integrity or the reputation of the game of cricket. They simply want to make illegal profit.
"It's not only advice, it's an absolute requirement under our code for players to report approaches from any of these people."
The ACSU has been under the spotlight since last Sunday's sensational revelations about Pakistan players' involvement in illegal gambling.
Flanagan, 61, is in the process of beefing up his team as he seeks to eradicate corruption in the sport.
He said: "I salute what The News of the World has done in bringing alleged wrongdoing to our notice.
"My aim, as far as is humanely possible, is to rid cricket of people who would engage in corruption and people who would in any way engage in dishonesty.
"I want the public to be absolutely satisfied when they are watching international cricket it is a truly fair and competitive game.
"It is my absolute determination, and that of all my colleagues, to do everything in our power to ensure that cricket is, and remains, clean.
"I am determined to free it from these criminal and corrupt people who would do so much to damage the integrity and the good name of cricket.
"I feel the pain and upset of cricket fans personally. Neither my team, nor I, will rest until we have done everything possible to ensure the game is clean.
"I remain of the firm view that what we are seeing now does not represent a contagion, the game is not rotten, it doesn't mean it is rampant.
"But what it does mean is that everyone in the game must increase and enhance their vigilance and their awareness to prevent this sort of thing."
Flanagan has been hardened in life by his dealings with terrorists and murderers in Northern Ireland.
But that has not stopped him being "deeply saddened" by a scandal that rocked the sport he played as a child on the backstreets of north Belfast.
Today he reaffirms his call for players to blow the whistle on anybody, including team-mates, they suspect of involvement in corruption.
Flanagan believes it is imperative players inform the authorities if they suspect any player.
He said: "When we sought assistance from the public in Northern Ireland my message used to be - You are the folks who know the regular patterns of activity in your area.
"Therefore you will know of any departure from these regular patterns.
"If you see any departures from those regular patterns, please inform us, that's my message to the players.
"In Northern Ireland I would rather have had 50 false alarms of what looked to be suspicious activity than miss the one where someone is actually making a bomb.
"Having been involved in policing in Northern Ireland and having frequently received reports of the most dreadful occurrences, the shock factor naturally diminishes over time.
"When I heard of the latest allegations, it wasn't so much a shock - we all know this sort of thing goes on - but I personally believe that it goes on from time to time rather than going on from a rampant sense.
"But it was a sense of great sadness. I feel this is the way that all true cricket people will be feeling it."
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has raised doubts over dressing room security at international matches, claiming mobile phones can be easily smuggled in and out.
Vaughan believes airport-style security may be required to prevent the practice.
And Flanagan admitted: "Nothing is off the agenda."
Cricket supporters this week voiced their fury at the hugely damaging recent revelations.
Flanagan added: "My message to cricket fans is - do not be disheartened. Place your trust that we will do all we can in our powers to keep this sport clean. Keep alert, and if there is anything at all, get in touch with us.
"Keep faith in the wonderful game of cricket.
"Undoubtedly, at this moment in time, there is a cloud hanging over the game.
"But every cloud does have a silver lining.
"We must do everything in our power to ensure the silver lining of this temporary cloud is that everyone enhances their awareness, everyone increases their vigilance.
"Everyone takes this as a wake-up call to make sure everything that is humanely possible is done to prevent it happening in the future.
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Anti-corruption chief's underworld warning to players
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