Three UAE cricketers suspended for corruption

Hosts UAE suffered a big blow ahead of the World T20 Qualifier which begins on 18th October. Three of their senior cricketers have come under the scanner for corruption charges. ICC has provisionally suspended Mohammad Naveed, Shaiman Anwar and Qadeer Ahmed with immediate effect. Naveed and Anwar have been an integral part of the UAE setup.

Earlier this week, UAE announced their squad with 31-yar old left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza at the helm. Naveed, the former captain, did not even feature in the squad. No reason for his absence was given at the time, now ICC’s statement has cleared the picture.

The charges

The ICC has charged both Naveed and Anwar with a breach of Article 2.1.1 which includes “contriving, or being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of matches in the upcoming ICC World T20 Qualifiers 2019.” Also in breach of Article 2.4.4 – “failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in conduct in relation to the ICC World T20 Qualifiers 2019 that would amount to corrupt conduct under the Code”.

Naveed has been charged for a few breaches in his T10 stint as well. Pace bowler Qadeer Ahmed has been charged under as many as six charges. Few of the breaches include –

Breach of Article 2.4.5 – failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any facts or matters that came to his attention that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the Code by another Participant.

Article 2.4.6 – failing or refusing to cooperate with an investigation being carried out by the ACU in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an ACU investigation including by concealing information that may be relevant to that investigation.

A cricketer from Ajman, Mehardeep Chhayakar has been charged with a breach of Article 2.4.6 which is failing or refusing to cooperate with an investigation being carried out by the ACU in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

The players have 14 days from 16 October 2019 to respond to the charges.

A trio of UAE players have been provisionally suspended from cricket.https://t.co/yX7nB3MccI

— ICC (@ICC) October 16, 2019