As women’s franchise cricket continues to grow, protecting the game from corruption has become increasingly important. The Hundred Women has built a strong integrity system designed to protect players, officials and matches from illegal betting networks and cricket match-fixing.
The England and Wales Cricket Board, along with the independent Cricket Regulator, uses several layers of protection during the tournament. These measures combine player education, venue security, betting surveillance and strict reporting rules.
Anti-Corruption Officers Around Teams
One of the most important parts of the system is the presence of dedicated Anti-Corruption Officers. These officers work with the franchises throughout the competition and are involved not only on match days but also around team hotels, travel, training sessions and other team activities.
Their role is to identify suspicious behaviour and prevent unauthorized contact between players and people who may attempt to influence matches.
Having officials closely connected to teams also means players have a clear point of contact if they receive an unusual message, offer or request.
Strict Dressing Room Security
The Player and Match Official Area, commonly known as the PMOA, has strict access rules. Players and match officials are required to hand over mobile phones, smartwatches and other connected communication devices before entering restricted areas.
The measure is designed to prevent unauthorized communication and reduce the possibility of sensitive information being shared during matches.
Such controls are particularly important in modern cricket, where information about tactics, player conditions and match situations can have significant value in betting markets.
Fighting Pitch-Siding
Another area of concern is pitch-siding. This involves individuals attempting to obtain live information from inside a stadium and pass it to betting networks.
Anti-corruption officials monitor spectators and look for suspicious behaviour, including people making unusual calls or using hidden communication equipment. Anyone suspected of participating in such activity can be removed from the venue and may face further restrictions.
The goal is to stop illegal betting groups from exploiting even small delays between live action and television broadcasts.
Player Education Is Essential
Technology and security alone cannot protect women’s cricket integrity. Players also need to understand how fixers operate.
Players in The Hundred receive mandatory anti-corruption education through programmes involving the Professional Cricketers’ Association. They learn how suspicious approaches can happen through social media, fake sponsorship opportunities or seemingly harmless conversations.
Players have a responsibility to report suspicious approaches immediately. This helps integrity officials investigate potential threats before they develop into serious incidents.
Monitoring Betting Markets
Authorities also monitor betting markets for unusual activity. The Cricket Regulator’s intelligence operations work with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit and betting integrity organisations to identify unusual movements in odds or betting volumes.
Unexpected patterns can trigger alerts and lead to further investigation. This provides another layer of protection beyond what officials can observe directly at grounds.
Protecting Young Players
Financial stability can also play an important role in anti-corruption in cricket. Higher professional salaries and bigger prize money can reduce the financial pressure faced by emerging players.
Young cricketers with greater financial security may be less vulnerable to approaches from people offering illegal payments.
The success of The Hundred Women depends not only on exciting cricket and growing audiences but also on maintaining trust. Through education, surveillance, security and strong reporting systems, the tournament is working to ensure that cricket match-fixing and corruption do not undermine the women’s game.
