ICC bans use of twitter by players during World Cup

STAFF WRITER 19:14 HRS IST

Melbourne, Feb 15 (PTI) In a bid to ensure a corruption-free World Cup following the spot-fixing scandal, the International Cricket Council has banned players and team officials from tweeting during matches.

The decision, an initiative of ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, was intended to restrain the players and officials from any possible approach by people with links to illegal betting during World Cup matches.

The move from the ICC came in response to Australian team manager Steve Bernard's tweets which attracted more than 1,100 followers to his @stevebernard37 account in the past six months, including during Ashes and the subsequent ODI series, according to a report in 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

The long-time manager was told soon after arriving in Bangalore with the team last week that he, as well as any other player or team official at the World Cup, had been banned from tweeting during matches.