By our correspondent
LAHORE: For the first time in its history, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is running without appointed integrity officers alongside teams — a role previously seen as crucial to shielding players from suspicious approaches. Instead, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has handed full responsibility to its own anti-corruption department for monitoring all teams during PSL 10.
In previous seasons, integrity officers were assigned to each franchise, often supported by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit during early editions. That system is now a thing of the past. According to PCB sources, the appointment of integrity officers was quietly discontinued last year, and this time the ICC’s unit has also not been involved — a decision based on the domestic nature of the tournament.
The PCB’s anti-corruption team is now operating behind the scenes, adopting a low-profile strategy during matches and at team hotels. While their presence may not be visible, they remain actively engaged in surveillance and enforcement.
All players and team officials have been given clear guidance to avoid contact with any unauthorized individuals. These instructions have been delivered through lectures, written materials, and training videos to help them spot and report any potentially corrupt approaches.
A foreign security firm, with experience working alongside the ICC and other international boards, has also been brought in to support safety operations — a move that has reportedly reassured overseas players.
So far, no suspicious incidents have been reported in this edition of the league. The PCB says it is committed to maintaining international anti-corruption standards throughout the tournament, even as it reshapes its own internal approach.
