BRIDGETOWN, Feb 14: The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit will be out “in force” to monitor the World Cup in the Caribbean, says chief executive Malcolm Speed.

Speed stressed the ICC will not tolerate illegal activity during the matches in the wake of allegations that West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels may have discussed team strategy with an alleged bookmaker during last month's limited-overs series in India.

“The ICC anti-corruption and security unit will be here in force,” Speed said. “Its members, both the investigators and the regional security managers, attend events such as this.”

Speed said the unit had contacts which assisted its investigative team in tracking bookmakers.

He said the unit was made up of former senior police officers from around the world, who will monitor any “inappropriate activity surrounding matches and will investigate any matter that seems to breach the ICC's code of conduct.”

The World Cup will be held in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago from March 13 to April 28.—AP