Sir Paul Condon, the head of the International Cricket Conference's anti-corruption unit, hopes to submit a report into match-fixing by next April.

The former Metropolitan Police commissioner was speaking after meeting with Indian cricket board chief AC Muthiah and other officials in Madras.

"This is not a witch-hunt or frivolous inquiry into the business affairs of the cricketers," said Condon. "It is an investigation into matters that are against cricketing ethics and activities."

Condon said he hoped to submit a report "on how to minimise corruption in cricket and maximise protection for players against corruption".

"The ICC probe has no time-frame and will go on as long as it does," he added.

In November, a report from India's Central Bureau of Investigation included allegations that five Indian and nine foreign players had been involved in match-fixing and betting.

The Indian cricket board subsequently banned Mohammed Azharuddin and former Test player Ajay Sharma for life following their own investigation, and handed down a five-year ban on star Ajay Jadeja and whistle-blower Manoj Prabhakar.

Former England skipper Alec Stewart was also included in the report but he has vehemently denied claims that he accepted money from a bookmaker in exchange for information.