Sydney: The head of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption security unit has denied he has set a dangerous precedent by allowing convicted spot fixer Mohammad Amir an early return from his five-year ban.

Mohd Amir and ICC’s ACSU head Ronnie Flanagan interacts with the media in Sydney yesterday. Pic/AFP

Sir Ronnie Flanagan last month exercised his discretion to enable the 22-year-old Pakistan seamer to make a return to domestic cricket seven months before his suspension was due to expire.

The decision raised some eyebrows, but speaking at a pre-World Cup press conference here. “The process I went through and the decision I arrived at, I’m certain does not set any improper precedent for others,” he said.

“I had interviewed him in the past and I am certainly satisfied that he met all those sorts of conditions that I’ve referred to — that he fully admitted his part and indeed had told us fully what he knew,” he added.

Crack down on live betting
Meanwhile, the ICC vowed to clamp down on live betting to try to ensure a corruption-free World Cup.

Anyone caught breaking the rules will be barred from the whole tournament.

Live betting or “pitch-siding” involves gamblers at sports events gaining an upper hand on other punters by taking advantage of the short time-lag, usually a matter of seconds, between play and live international broadcasts on television.