No tweeting on World Cup match days, says ICC

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Players and officials have  been barred from using social networking site Twitter during  World Cup matches as a precautionary measure against possible  corruption, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.
The move to bar team managers, along with players and  coaches, from tweeting follows a suggestion from the  Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the governing body.
“During matches, team managers are not permitted to use  twitter on their phone,” the spokesman said by phone from  Bangalore today.
“The players can’t use Twitter on phone anyway because they  don’t have phones during matches. It’s just the team manager’s  phone, nothing else.
“It is only during the matches (that they cannot tweet).  Before or after the matches are fine. It’s being done only as a  precaution.”
Australian team manager Steve Bernard drew a considerable  following with his tweets during the recent Ashes series but he  will not be allowed to publish his observations or opinions on  match days once the World Cup begins on Saturday.
Earlier this month, the ICC banned three Pakistani  cricketers on spot-fixing charges, which the governing body  hopes would serve as a deterrent.
“The particular verdict and sanctions contribute to sending  quite a strong message. If you do transgress and if you do get  engaged in corrupt activities we will hunt you down and we will  prosecute,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told Reuters  earlier this week.
A large illegal betting syndicate operates in the  subcontinent with Mumbai as its hub and the ICC favours  legalising betting in India where it is confined to horse-racing  only.