TANGIERS, Aug 10: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) sleuths are here and promising to keep a close vigil on the players activity in this ancient city.

Col Nooruddin Khawaja, ACU representative for Pakistan and Bangladesh, along with Robert Smalley are here for the last week or so and trying to give final touches to the standard procedures drawn to curb the menace of betting and match-fixing.

Although there are casinos on every street, ACU sleuths claim there are no betting shops as betting is illegal here. They have not revealed if they have unearthed any illegal betting shops.

However, on the entrance of the stadium, a huge notice “Gambling and betting on cricket is illegal ad strictly prohibited” has been placed. One wonders if that would be enough to keep the bookies or punters away.

The ACU has a budget of more than three million pounds and so far not a single corrupt cricketer has been pointed out. The existence of their spies and installation of surveillance cameras appears to be an attempt to justify their role in cricket.

A total of six surveillance cameras three each — have been installed in the stadium and the team hotel. In the stadium, a camera has been installed at the entrance while a camera each has been fixed in the two dressing rooms.

Three cameras have been installed at the team hotel around the lobby. The ACU sleuths claim it would be enough to keep a check on the guests and visitors of the players. However, no arrangements have been done to monitor the incoming telephone calls and if something has been done, it has not been revealed.

More than a dozen security guards have been engaged by the ACU who will follow the team or stay around them. Half of them have been deputed at the hotel and on team floors while the rest will be at the stadium.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed is also due in the city of mixed cultures later today.

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