Tweet no more: ICC ban use of the social networking site

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have imposed a wide-spread ban on Twitter updates. The ban - enforced upon players and match officials who update live Twitter feeds during games - has been placed to aid the prevention of corruption in the game.

Although corruption is rife in the sport, the clamp-down on live 'tweeting' has been made in the hope that the absence of players' and coaches' updates will prevent illegal behaviour later in the match - in particular involving betting syndicates.

The ban will be imposed during this year's World Cup matches on players and officials whilst their respective matches are in-play - although they can still tweet when not playing.

Whilst this is the first time officials will be banned from using the social networking site, it is seen as an extension on a previous ban in place regarding the use of mobile phones during matches.

ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald told AFP: "This is just a precaution, it's not something we are overly concerned about. But we do feel a team manager's phone should be used for operational purposes only during matches."

Last month, Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Amir were handed minimum 5-year bans from the sport following a spot-fixing scandal during an international match. Further afield, former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel was given a £10,000 fine for an outburst on Twitter regarding football referee Howard Webb after their 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in January.

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(Original story posted by myself on http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/?p=38327)