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Allegations that France Cricket (FC) fabricated
matches to demonstrate its dedication to women’s cricket in the nation in an
attempt to obtain financing from the international organisation are being
investigated by the ICC.
Following Tracy Rodriguez’s discovery of what turned
out to be phantom games, a former French women’s international and board
member, the accusations were aired in a report by France24. According to the
ICC, it is anticipated that it will launch an inquiry into the matter and is
treating the accusations seriously. It’s too soon to tell if the
Anti-Corruption Unit, or ACU, will be engaged.
Rodriguez, who was elected to the board in 2021 but
resigned earlier this year, told France24 that she made the decision to take
action because she didn’t think the board was claiming to be playing as many
women’s games as it stated. She walked to the fields where the bouts were
scheduled to take place, but there was nothing going on.
“Two or three times I [went] there, people were
having picnics and kids cycling around at the time of the game,” she told
France 24. “Then the day after I would see the results of the games
online.”
France24 did the same thing, attending matches when
and where they were supposed to be played, only to also find no games taking
place. They went to a ground north of Paris to watch a women’s second division
game, did not see it take place, and three days later, “France Cricket
rubber-stamped the match as having taken place and posted the results on their
website.”
The report reveals details of the funding FC receives
from the ICC and how much of it is pegged to the development of the women’s
game and junior cricket. “According to a 2021 ICC presentation on the
state of cricket in France, the ICC provides 60-70% of France Cricket’s total
budget, roughly $320,000 out of a total of $520,000 for the year 2022. Almost
half of these ICC funds are meant to support women’s and juniors’
cricket.”
FC has been approached for comment.