The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports on a proposal under consideration by the International Cricket Conference (ICC) to require Test cricketers to submit to polygraph interrogations every six months. Excerpt:
Player representatives have given a cool response to a proposal to make Test cricketers undergo lie detector tests every six months as part of the fight to stamp out match-fixing.
It is one of a range of measures being considered by the International Cricket Council in an attempt to improve the game’s image.
The introduction of lie detectors was mooted by Judge Edwin King in his report on South Afirca’s match-fixing inquiry, set up following the sacking of former captain Hansie Cronje.
The ICC will discuss the matter further at a meeting next week.
But David Graveney, joint chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), told BBC Sport Online the idea “may be bordering on the unreasonable”.
He said: “Lie detection is something that legally you have to look at in order to protect the player.
“We’d support reasonable and proper measures but we are still duty bound to defend the liberty of an individual.
“As far as I can see, a lot of people have serious reservations.”
Graveney’s view echoed that of Tim May, the other joint chief of FICA and head of the Australian Cricketers Association.
“We’re keen to put in reasonable procedures to ensure we can eradicate match-fixing from the game, but there are reasonable procedures and unreasonable procedures.
“My gut feeling at this stage, without knowing the reliability of lie detectors, is this may well be on the unreasonable side,” he said.