Cricketers warned of ‘Honey Trap’ ahead of WC

Sydney: The game of cricket has often been rocked by match-fixing and honey traps. Allegations of fixing, including the new phenomenon of spot-fixing, have emerged from time to time, tarnishing the image of the gentleman’s game.

The world’s top cricketers have been warned that underworld criminals are planning to use sex as a weapon during the 50-over World Cup in Australia next year.

The match-fixing crooks will deploy female “honey traps’’ in a ruse to snare sexually compromising pictures of the players that can then be used for blackmail.

The New Zealand Herald has reported Kiwi police are on high alert for the sexual deception ahead of the World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The Kiwi cop in-charge of police operations during the tournament, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, says blackmailing players with sexually explicit photos has become a key weapon for match fixers.

“We know they bring in women into the country to fraternise with players,” Sanderson said.

“Afterwards, they’ll ask the players to do something and if they refuse they’ll say, ‘Well, see these photographs? They will be with your wife, your neighbours, your parents. “There are millions and millions of dollars at stake in match fixing.”

It is not the first time players have been warned about the honey-trap danger.

During last year’s global Twenty20 Champions League in India, at which the Brisbane Heat played, organisers banned skimpily dressed cheerleaders who were to be flown in from Russia and Ukraine.

They were given their marching orders because of fears they could have links to organised crime.

Indian Premier League bosses have in recent years also decided to tone down the sideshow with officials concerned pom-pom girls were spicing up the show too much by “mixing’’ with players at wild after-match parties.

Meanwhile, cricket World Cup organisers are on high alert for match fixing after the sport has been repeatedly rocked by corruption scandals in recent years.

There has also been a crackdown on the controversial practice of “court-siding” where punters bet live at the ground during matches to obtain a betting advantage over those watching on television.