In a recent match fixing scandal, the ICC has slapped 2 UAE cricketers and 8-year-ban from all forms of cricket for allegedly fixing matches. The 2 UAE players are Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar Butt. These two players have been given the harshest punishment as the Anti-Corruption Tribunal found them guilty of breaching the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code. Naveed and Butt were accused of fixing matches of the ICC’s Men T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE.
The Anti-Corruption Tribunal found the two UAE cricketers guilty of two articles:
Article 2.1.1: “Fixing or contriving in any way or otherwise influencing improperly, or being a party to any agreement or effort to fix or contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any International Match, including (without limitation) by deliberately underperforming therein at the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.
Article 2.4.4: Failing to disclose to the ACSU (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code. At the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.
Meanwhile, Naveed was also found guilty of breaching two more codes of the Emirates Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Code for the T10 league 2019. These two codes are:
Article 2.1.1: “For being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of a match or matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.”
Article 2.4.4: “Failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.”
Meanwhile, ICC General Manager of the Integrity Unit, Alex Marshall issued a statement saying how the two players from UAE were bright talents and a long international career whilst being aware of the match-fixing threats. Despite being aware of the same, they chose to engage in corrupt activities and ended up betraying their teammates, and supporters of UAE cricket.
“Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar represented their adopted country, the UAE at the highest level in cricket. Naveed was the captain and leading wicket taker. Anwar was the opening bat. Both had long international careers and were well versed in the threat from match fixers. That they both chose to engage with this corrupt activity was a cynical betrayal of their positions, their teammates, and all supporters of UAE cricket. I am pleased that the independent Tribunal has imposed significant bans from all forms of cricket and this should serve as a warning to any cricketer who considers taking the wrong path,” said Marshall in his statement.
The sport of Cricket is one filled with exhilarating moments and has garnered a massive following over the years. Given the nature of everything that’s famous and widely popular, the sport also attracted bookies and match fixers in the last three decades. A match-fixing is a situation where cricketers are paid off by bookies for playing with a pre-determined result in mind. Over the years, a number of cricketers have been found guilty of participating in match fixing.
In 2019, former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya was slapped with a two-year ban from ICC after he admitted to violating the ICC’s anti-corruption code after the ICC carried out an investigation.
He breached Article 2.4.6 – Failure or refusal, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU, and Article 2.4.7 – Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation.
In 2016, Indian flamboyant pacer S.Sreesanth was banned from cricket for life after he was guilty of spot-fixing in the seventh edition of IPL. In 2011.
Pakistani players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were slapped a 10-year-ban and a 7-year-ban respectively for deliberately bowling no-balls against England.
Perhaps the most well-known and darkest moment in Indian cricket history came in the form of Mohammad Azharuddin’s life ban which was slapped on him by the ICC in 2000. The former Indian skipper was alleged to have provided information to bookies. However, 8 years later the ban was overturned as the case was labelled unsustainable.