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The International Cricket Council says "sensible" security measures will be in place during the forthcoming Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka.

But world cricket's governing body has dismissed reports of a Big Brother-style surveillance operation to prevent any possibility of players being approached by or contacting bookmakers. An Agence France Presse report quoted an unnamed police source as saying that they would be mounting a "commando operation" against match-fixing.

Measures would include, the report said, closed circuit cameras in dressing rooms, in car parks and team hotels, and that incoming batsmen would be escorted to the boundary to prevent last-minute contact with bookmakers. ICC communications manager Mark Harrison insisted, however, that security at the Champions Trophy will not be so intense.

"I don't want to get drawn into what police in Sri Lanka have said and get involved in a slanging match", Harrison told BBC Sport Online.

"But what I will say is that there will be strong, rigorous and sensible levels of security at the tournament. "The ACU has been working closely with the police in Sri Lanka and I'm happy to say we have enjoyed good co-operation".

He added: "It is true that closed circuit cameras will be in operation in hotel lobbies and the like, but there will be no such scrutiny in players' rooms or in dressing rooms.

"And players will not be escorted to the oval on their way to bat.

"It is our intent to implement professional, low-key and diligent security so that the tournament can be allowed to run properly".

Four of the five security managers recently appointed by the ICC to help safeguard the game from corruption will be attending the tournament. Only Arnie de Beer, who is presently operating at the Kenya Tri-series tournament, will not be there.

The Champions Trophy is viewed by many as something of a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup. From a security viewpoint, Harrison sees it as no different.

"The Champions Trophy is a way for the ACU to see how different methods of security work, but there will be greater levels of security at the World Cup.

"We have a security directorate looking at that - and that have been for some time now - who are working in close conjunction with authorities in South Africa.

"It is all part of an ongoing process to try to rid cricket from corruption once and for all", Harrison said. (BBC)

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