Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the independent chair of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) since 2010, will retire at the end of October. His departure follows the announcement that ACU head Alex Marshall will also step down in November.
Flanagan, a highly respected law enforcement official, previously served as the Home Office chief inspector of constabulary for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. He was also the chief constable of the Northern Ireland police service. Flanagan succeeded Lord Paul Condon, the ACU’s inaugural head, who stepped down in 2010 after a decade of service.
Condon had been appointed by the ICC in 2000, tasked with addressing the rising threat of match-fixing in cricket. His efforts led to significant reforms, including the life bans of international captains Mohammad Azharuddin, Saleem Malik, and Hansie Cronje for their involvement in match-fixing. Under his leadership, the ACU established mechanisms to safeguard the integrity of the game.
As Condon approached retirement, he warned about the rising threat posed by T20 cricket’s growing popularity. He specifically highlighted domestic franchise leagues as the biggest risk to cricket’s integrity. His concerns were validated by the 2013 IPL corruption scandal. That year, Flanagan, addressing the ICC annual conference, urged cricket boards to implement stronger anti-corruption measures. He recommended stricter laws to prosecute players, match officials, and franchise owners involved in corrupt activities in T20 leagues.
The ICC has announced that a recommendation for Flanagan’s successor will be put forward during its quarterly meetings in October.
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