Sharjah cricket chiefs will limit players' use of mobile phones and increase security near dressing rooms as part of a campaign to combat corruption in the sport.

The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series, which organizes the twice-yearly tournaments in Sharjah, wants to prevent the desert venue - host of a record 174 One-Day Internationals - becoming a potential haven for match-fixers. The CBFS had sought guidance from cricket's Anti-Corruption Unit on how to implement recommendations from ACU Director Lord Condon.

Condon, a former police commissioner in London, submitted a report in April on how best to eradicate match-fixing and other forms of corruption from cricket. The International Cricket Council ruled that his advice be adopted.

"We have embraced Lord Condon's recommendations, especially security around the players' dressing rooms," said Zahid Noorani, CBFS chief executive. "There'll be one mobile phone allowed and that is with the manager."

Five players, including former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, have received life bans in the past two years as a result of investigations into match-fixing. Cronje was found out when police listened to his cellular-phone conversations with bookmakers.

The ACU's Bob Smalley and Jeff Rees, who visited Sharjah during the April event, accepted an invitation from the CBFS last month to advise on security. They will fly out again for the next tournament comprising Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4th.

"The action is for the players' benefit," Noorani said. "The only purpose behind this exercise is to protect them from untoward approaches from bookmakers."

The Emirates Cricket Board, independent of the CBFS, last year commissioned a three-man party - headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd - to investigate claims of cricket corruption in the U.A.E. It hasn't yet submitted a report.

© Bloomberg