World Cup: No tweeting during match, says ICC

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Players and officials have been barred from using social networking site Twitter during World Cup cricket matches as a precautionary measure against possible corruption, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

The move to bar team managers, along with players and coaches, from tweeting follows a suggestion from the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the governing body.

"During matches, team managers are not permitted to use twitter on their phone," the spokesman said by phone from Bangalore on Wednesday.

"The players can't use Twitter on phone anyway because they don't have phones during matches. It's just the team manager's phone, nothing else.

"It is only during the matches (that they cannot tweet). Before or after the matches are fine. It's being done only as a precaution."

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Australian team manager Steve Bernard drew a considerable following with his tweets during the recent Ashes series but he will not be allowed to publish his observations or opinions on match days once the World Cup begins on Saturday.

Earlier this month, the ICC banned three Pakistani cricketers on spot-fixing charges, which the governing body hopes would serve as a deterrent.

"The particular verdict and sanctions contribute to sending quite a strong message. If you do transgress and if you do get engaged in corrupt activities we will hunt you down and we will prosecute," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told Reuters earlier this week.

A large illegal betting syndicate operates in the subcontinent with Mumbai as its hub and the ICC favours legalising betting in India where it is confined to horse-racing only.