Cricket's biggest chance to clean itself: Dravid

Former India captain Rahul Dravid has called for a "thorough and comprehensive" investigation into the spot-fixing scam and said the current scandal is "cricket biggest chance to clean itself".

Terming the International Cricket Council's (ICC) move to suspend three Pakistani cricketers -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir -- for their alleged role in spot-fixing during the Lord's Test a step in the positive direction, Dravid said the inquiry against the trio should be taken to its logical conclusion.

"The last thing we need is for the events of this week to be swept under the carpet. No guilt must be attached until the investigations are complete, and everyone deserves a fair chance to defend themselves. But the process must be thorough and comprehensive," Dravid said. 

Dravid, who wants ICC's investigation to be completed before the matter moved on to a "proper inquiry carried out by investigators with the law of the land behind them", said, "It (scandal) has been a horrible scar on cricket, cricketers and fans." 

"The most necessary outcome would be swift and strong punishment to anyone found guilty." 

"In the past people once judged guilty turned up after a few months just because time had passed. It was as if everyone had forgotten what days like these feel like for the majority of honest players in the game," the right-hander was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

While recommending a full-fledged inquiry with severe penalties to those proved guilty, the mainstay of India's Test lineup, said he does not like the security measures which are in place at at the moment. 

"No one wants to be under watch all the time. I hate that there are cops and security on our floor in every hotel the team lives in, but that is what the game requires," Dravid said.

About ICC's Anti-Corruption Code, he said, "It's not just about the right rules being laid down but also ensuring that people who break those rules pay the penalties and face the consequences."