ICC charges cricket players and officials over corruption
Charges relate to the Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code for participants for the Abu Dhabi T10 League. The ICC, the global governing body for cricket, has issued the charges on behalf of the ECB.
The charges relate to the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League and attempts to corrupt matches. These attempts were disrupted but charges have still been brought forward in response to the activities.
Among those facing charges is Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain. The player is alleged to have breached several rules including Article 2.4.3 for failing to disclose the receipt of a gift worth over $750.
Hossain is also said to have failed to disclose details of corruption approaches (Article 2.4.4), as well as not co-operating with an investigation into such matters (Article 2.4.6).
Sri Lanka’s Saliya Saman has also been flagged for numerous breaches including Article 2.1.1 on being party to an attempt to fix matches. The ICC also highlighted Article 2.1.3, referring to offering other players rewards to fix matches, and Article 2.1.4 on facilitating participants to contrive matches.
The other player facing charges is Rizwan Javed. Breaches include Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.4.4 and 2.4.6.
Cricket officials and team co-owners also face corruption charges
The ICC also flagged a number of coaching staff and team co-owners as part of the same case. These include Krishan Kumar Chaudhary and Parag Sanghvi, the co-owners of Karnataka Tuskers, now known as the Pune Devils.
Chaudhary faces charges of breaching Article 2.4.5 on passing information to the relevant authorities on corrupt activities. Chaudhary is also accused of obstructing or delaying an investigation (Article 2.4.7), as well as Article 2.4.6.
Sanghvi is accused of breaching Article 2.2.1 on placing bets on cricket matches, in addition to Article 2.4.6 and failing to co-operate with investigations.
Others facing charges include batting coach Ashar Zaidi, Sunny Dhillon, an assistant coach, and team manager Shadab Ahamed. All three are accused of breaching rules related to corruption in cricket.
Chaudhary, Sanghvi, Zaidi, Javed, Saman and Dhillon have all been provisionally suspended. They have 14 days from 19 September to respond to the charges. It is not yet clear where Hossain and Ahamed stand in the case.
West Indies cricketer suspended over corruption charges
This comes after the ICC in May charged West Indies batsman Devon Thomas with seven counts under anti-corruption codes. Thomas was handed a provisional suspension as part of the ruling.
He was charged with breaches of the codes of the ECB, Sri Lanka Cricket and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The ECB charges again relate to the T10 Cricket League.
Like some of the individuals in the latest case, Thomas was found in breach of Article 2.4.4 of the ECB Code.