August 12  
Morocco tournament attracts world's elite

TANGIERS, Morocco: "Gambling and betting on cricket is illegal and strictly prohibited," says the prominent sign at the entrance to the Tangiers cricket stadium. 

The warning may not be strictly true but it is all the reminder anybody needs of the turmoil the game has suffered at the hands of match-fixers in recent years. 

Morocco becomes the latest nation to host international cricket with a triangular one-day tournament starting on Monday featuring three of the best teams in the world -- Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa. 

The game's followers should be rejoicing in the game's globalisation and, especially, its growth in Africa. 

But there are, understandably, still suspicions about the veracity of some international fixtures and a tournament in a place as exotic as the charming Moroccan city of Tangiers on the Straights of Gibraltar is attracting more attention than most. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti Corruption Unit have made a conspicuous effort to ensure the 'cleanliness' of this tournament and, thankfully, has employed some subtler methods than the sign at the stadium's entrance. 

A prize fund of $250,000 makes the tournament the richest to be played outside of world cups and should also give any potential match fixers a run for their money, so to speak. 

The spectre of corruption has not dampened everyone's enthusiasm, however, and for a nation formally introduced to cricket just three years ago, it has made startling progress and is already the proud owner of an ICC affiliate membership. 

The participants are treating the tournament as a valuable part of their build-up to the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and have selected their strongest teams. 

The locals, not to mention a worldwide television audience, will get the chance to see some of the game's best players towards the end of their illustrious careers. 

Pakistan stars Wasim Akram and captain Waqar Younis lead a star-studded line-up that includes all rounders Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood, batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq and match-winning spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. 

Sri Lanka will again rely on the devastating batting of captain Sanath Jayasuriya and a return to form following injury of the best off spinner in the game, Muttiah Muralitharan. 

South Africa, after a three-month winter break for most of their players, will look to captain Shaun Pollock for inspiration after he and spinning all rounder Nicky Boje spent the off season playing county cricket in England. 

Veteran fast bowler Allan Donald, 35, like Pakistan's Akram, will be keen to demonstrate to the growing band of sceptics that he is still a force and, more importantly, will still be in six months time when the World Cup begins on home soil. 

The teams have also been stunned by the quality of the facilities and talk of further international fixtures, seemingly fanciful before their arrival in the city, are now confirmed with all three signing a contract for the next three years. 

South Africa and Pakistan kick the tournament off on Monday, while Sri Lanka enter the fray against Waqar's men on Wednesday following a rest day. 

The winners of the final on August 21 will collect a cheque for $120,000 with the runners-up being paid $80,000 and the third-placed team $50,000.