Cricket is Life: PAKISTAN WARNED BY ICC

An International Cricket Council investigation may have cleared Pakistan of any wrongdoing in the third one-day international against England last month, but the country's board have been issued with a stern warning over their future handling of the game. The ICC board met this week for the first time since damaging spot-fixing allegations against Pakistan surfaced.

And while an investigation continues into suspended trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, additional claims relating to the match at The Brit Oval on September 17 were rejected as having "no compelling evidence to suspect individual players or support staff". Despite that, the overriding tone of the ICC's message to administrators in Pakistan was clear - address your problems quickly or face the consequences.

The ICC Board agreed on eight new measures designed to "protect the integrity of the game and restore confidence" - each of which were approved by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Included in these measures were resolutions that the PCB "act and be seen to be acting to uphold the zero tolerance attitude to corruption in sport", encourage their players to work thoroughly with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit and implement robust education and disciplinary models in line with the ICC's own code.

In addition there is a strongly-worded reminder, which may be taken as a response to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt's seemingly groundless allegations of corruption in the England team, not to "undermine the integrity, reputation and image of the game and/or any ongoing disciplinary or criminal proceedings".

Finally, the ICC have warned in ominous terms about the consequences of failing to adhere to the new guidelines.

The statement concluded: "If the PCB fails to carry out the above to the satisfaction of the board within the next 30 days, the board will consider what further action (including, if appropriate, sanctions) is required in the circumstances."

Key to the overseeing of the PCB's efforts towards compliance will be the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, a body initially conceived to help the national side deal with its current inability to host home series due to terror threats, but now given an expanded brief.

In a busy day in Dubai, the ICC also confirmed proposals for Test and one-day league structures had been given the green light.

"I'm quite excited by the proposals," chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. "I believe quite firmly that we've responded well to a very important strategic area for international cricket.

"We're now very, very clear in terms of having a Test league, so there will be a type of championship model which will result in the top four teams qualifying to play in semi-finals and then a final.

"I think that's a substantial improvement in terms of introducing context to Test cricket.

"Similarly for ODI cricket we will have a league structure."

Under the proposals, there would also be an enhanced World Twenty20 event comprising 16 teams, while the World Cup would be reduced to 10.

The slimming down of the World Cup will not please associate members, who have long argued for their inclusion at the event, though the greater number of sides involved in the World Twenty20 is designed to soften that blow.