Dubai, June 1 (IANS) Yogendra Pal Singh, former joint director of India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has replaced Ravi Sawani as the head of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC), it was announced here Wednesday.
The 55-year-old Singh takes over from another former CBI officer, Sawani, who is retiring from that full-time post after holding it since November 2007. Sawani, however, will remain involved with the ACSU as a consultant so that his extensive knowledge and experience will be available to the ICC.
Singh comes to the role with outstanding credentials, having served for 30 years in the Indian Police Service, including several years with the CBI, and was an investigator in India’s high profile 2G spectrum allocation case. Singh withdrew from the investagtions in February, seeking voluntary retirment from the CBI.
Singh, along with ACSU Chairman Ronnie Flanagan, will lead the work to ensure the game of cricket remains on top of the issues of corruption and security within the sport.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat welcomed Singh’s appointment.
‘First of all I would like to pay tribute to the work of Ravi Sawani. He has been outstanding in the role and instrumental in ensuring the ICC has retained a zero-tolerance approach and is at the forefront of fighting corruption in sport. We are fortunate to have a person of YP’s outstanding credentials and experience to take over and I am sure he will continue the good work of ACSU,’ Lorgat said.
‘As recent events have shown, the menace of corruption in sport is real but with the measures we have established over the years the public can be confident that we will make certain the integrity of the sport is maintained.
‘We must, however, remain vigilant and YP will bring with him a fresh outlook to the continuing challenges that lie ahead. I am delighted with his appointment and I am sure his presence will help our leadership status and provide a model for other sports in the fight against corruption,’ Lorgat added.
