JOHANNESBURG, April 6: A former Test umpire and a former Test cricketer are about to be charged by the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

Details remain sketchy with no confirmation of their nationalities.

In a first for the multi-million dollar ACU, headed by Lord Condon, a report is being prepared detailing allegations of corruption against the pair.

While Condon and his small team of London-based investigators have conducted extensive inquiries into cricket corruption around the world since being formed almost two years ago, the unit has previously only assisted home cricket boards to deal with crooked players.

Condon’s report will be sent to the ICC’s new code of conduction commissioner Michael Beloff, QC, who will head an independent group of at least three to decide what action should be taken.

If found guilty the pair is likely to be banned from any future involvement in the game at all levels.

A final report, which may take some months to become public, will then be handed to the ICC board, made of the presidents and chairmen of the 10 Test-playing nations.

At the most recent ICC meeting, in Capetown last month, Condon claimed there had been no evidence of corruption or match fixing in cricket over the past 12 months.

He also said the World Cup, to be held in South Africa next February and March, should be clean, although it will almost certainly involve players who have been guilty of match fixing that the ACU has been unable to prove.