CBI's Virk appointed ICC
Security Manager

India's N S Virk, who played a key role in the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe in the match-fixing scandal has been appointed as one of five Regional Security Managers by the International Cricket Council, "to safeguard cricket from corruption".

The 48-year-old Virk, a former superintendent with the CBI, will be in-charge of the region covering India and Sri Lanka, the ICC said in London on Thursday evening.

Virk was deeply involved in the investigative work that led to the publication of the CBI Report into 'Cricket Match Fixing and Related Malpractices' in November 2000.

The other four Regional Security Managers are Arrie de Beer (assigned to South Africa and Zimbabwe), Lt Col Nuruddin Khawaja (assigned to Pakistan and Bangladesh), John Rhodes (assigned to Australia and New Zealand) and Bob Smalley (assigned to England and the West Indies).

Each of the Security Managers has been assigned to work with two international teams, and with effect from the beginning of June, they will attend all future ICC sanctioned international tours and tournaments.

"These appointments are a powerful demonstration of the ICC's resolve to rid the international game from the threat of match-fixing and corruption, which have tarnished cricket's reputation around the world over the past two years," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed.

"The appointment of Security Managers was one of the major recommendations put forward by Lord Condon's Anti Corruption Unit Report of April 2001 and accepted by the ICC Executive Board," he added.

Expanding upon these comments Lord Condon, Director of the ICC Anti Corruption Unit, said: "The highly professional security infrastructure now being put in place will provide the game with a discreet but effective long term deterrent. The aim is to rid cricket from corruption once and for all, but without sacrificing the enjoyment of players and those who follow the game."

A global recruitment campaign, personally overseen by Malcolm Speed and Lord Condon, targeted candidates with outstanding service in police forces and the military.

The five security managers:
Arrie de Beer (Assigned to South Africa and Zimbabwe)
Age: 47
Based: Johannesburg
A former senior police officer in South Africa, Arrie was the Superintendent in charge of the VIP Protection Unit for the South African Police in Pretoria.

Lt Col Nuruddin Khawaja (Assigned to Pakistan and Bangladesh)
Age: 49
Based: Lahore
After a successful and varied career spanning 28 years in the Pakistan army, Nuruddin joined the Pakistan Cricket Board in 1999 and has since worked as its manager for domestic cricket. He completed a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Punjab University in 2000 and acted as the PCB's liaison officer with the Anti Corruption Unit during its visit to Pakistan last year.

John Rhodes (Assigned to Australia and New Zealand)
Age: 46
Based: Sydney
John was a serving Inspector with the New South Wales Police Force before accepting the new ICC post. His professional sporting links include a secondment from NSW Police to the Sydney Olympic Games Organising Committee, touring with the Australian Rugby Union team as its Risk Management Advisor and representing his country in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do.

Bob Smalley (Assigned to England and the West Indies)
Age: 51
Based: London
Bob was a career police officer with the Metropolitan Police Force in London and spent six years on the personal staff of the Commissioner. He was an original member of the ICC Anti Corruption Unit and will now combine his role as Support Manager with that of Security Manager for England and the West Indies.

N S Virk (India and Sri Lanka)
Age: 48
Based: New Delhi
A former Superintendent with India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), N S Virk was heavily involved in the investigative work that led to the publication of the major CBI Report into Cricket Match-Fixing and Related Malpractices in November 2000.

Security Managers are contracted to the ICC on a full time basis and will attend each series or tournament held in their region. If both teams assigned to a Security Manager are playing at the same time one of the other Managers will provide cover.

These appointments are effective from 1st June and all Security Managers will attend an induction camp in Sri Lanka from the 10th of that month. This will allow formal training to be combined with practical security screening of the two venues to be used for the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo, in September this year.

Mail Cricket Editor