LONDON, Nov 16: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reported to have asked the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to monitor the activities of former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who has been appointed England’s spin-bowling coach.

As a result, Mushtaq will not be joining England’s development squad in India in November as planned.

The ICC disapproved of Mushtaq’s appointment — it cannot legally block the ECB’s move — because he was implicated in the match-fixing scandal in 2000 and fined by the Justice Qayyum commission of inquiry.

“The ICC takes the issue of corruption within the game extremely seriously and is aware of the sanction and criticism of Mushtaq within the Qayyum report,” Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, was quoted as saying by the Sunday Telegraph.

“We will not tolerate corruption within our sport and expect the ECB to provide us with details and assurances that it would monitor Mushtaq’s activities and performance during his tenure as a coach.” Andrew Walpole, England’s press officer in India, told the paper the ECB had agreed to give the ICC an undertaking that Mushtaq’s activities will be monitored.

Mushtaq, 38, last played for Pakistan in 2003, following which he carved out a successful county career and, in 2003, became the first bowler in five years to take 100 wickets in the English season. His performance was instrumental in guiding Sussex to their first Championship title.

Mushtaq ended his first-class career this season, and severed ties with the ICL — he was with the Lahore Badshahs — in October to take up the coaching role with England.—Agencies