The spying game: ICC unveils radical plan

Players who do not report the approaches would be penalised under the anti-corruption code, with sanctions ranging from warnings to fines and suspensions.

The plan is only in its embryonic stage and is one of many new initiatives being considered by the ICC in light of the Pakistan spot-fixing allegations, but the undercover agents would be the first used in any sport in this manner. The idea was put to ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat and is now being considered.

''We are thinking of setting up our own approaches to players, to see if they report it, we will think out of the box,'' Lorgat told the Herald. ''It is only a tentative plan at this stage, we are working on a number of measures to combat corruption. We are not sitting on our hands … we are being as proactive as we can in ensuring the integrity of the game is maintained.''

A major problem in policing corruption and identifying bookmakers is realising the scope of their operations and methods. While many players have reported approaches to the ICC's anti-corruption unit or their own boards, there is no telling how many other cricketers have simply dismissed encounters.

If players are aware that any potential encounter could be with an undercover agent, they will not hesitate to report it due to fear of exposure. In turn, the plight of illegal bookmakers becomes infinitely more difficult knowing each time they attempt to speak to a player, they will likely be reported. If the plan is approved at the ICC's next meeting, players could be approached by undercover operatives during the Ashes and next year's World Cup.

Australian players have made it notoriously tough for bookies to build relationships with them. Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee and David Warner have reported approaches from suspicious characters in the past 18 months. Watson and Haddin were approached by the same man - identified later as having links to illegal Indian bookmakers - during last year's tour of England for the Ashes and World Twenty20.

Pakistan Test skipper Salman Butt, and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir face serious penalties if the ICC can prove they were guilty of spot-fixing during the series against England. The trio have appealed against their suspensions and will front separate hearings later this month in Qatar.

Butt is maintaining his innocence, despite reports that police had found in his London hotel room marked notes given by a News of the World undercover reporter to Mazhar Majeed, Butt's agent and an alleged fixer who is still under a criminal investigation, as part of a sting.

''My cricket career was going well and I was also doing well, these allegations have damaged my career,'' Butt said. ''I hope these hurdles are crossed as soon as possible. I think after passing through so much difficulty in your career, your exposure helps you become wiser … This is a hurdle which is a learning process of life.''

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been forced to implement new strategies to fight the threat of corruption within its team, and it has already released a new code of conduct for players highlighting zero tolerance for associating with fixers or player agents believed to be involved in fixing.

The ICC also told the PCB to introduce; a competency-based education program for all registered players, a strong disciplinary process for the sport, a deterrent and detection process to identify corrupt players, officials, agents and others.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt was essentially warned that if he did not accept and introduce these terms his position as a member representative was under threat.

Pakistan's new team manager Intikhab Alam said: ''The new code of conduct is the first step towards fulfilling the ICC's recommendations. We hope the new code will help us in dealing with the disciplinary and corruption problems.''