The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a firm stand against match-fixing by issuing a 14-year ban to cricketer Mehar Chhayakar. The Indian-born player, who predominantly played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was found guilty of multiple breaches of the ICC and Cricket Canada Anti-Corruption Codes by an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal.
Chhayakar’s charges stem from his involvement in the Zimbabwe vs UAE series in April 2019 and the GT20 matches in Canada in 2019. He was found to have violated Article 2.1.1 of the Anti-Corruption Codes, which prohibits players from attempting to influence the result, progress, or conduct of any international match, including deliberately underperforming. Chhayakar was found guilty of breaching this rule on two separate occasions.
Additionally, the ICC highlighted his violations of Article 2.1.4, which pertains to soliciting, inducing, or intentionally facilitating any participant to breach the provisions outlined in Article 2.1. Chhayakar was found to have broken this regulation twice. Furthermore, he breached Article 2.4.6, which requires players to cooperate fully with investigations into potential corrupt conduct by providing accurate information and documentation. Chhayakar was found in violation of this rule on two separate occasions. The ICC also determined that he obstructed or delayed investigations, a breach of Article 2.4.7m, by concealing or tampering with relevant information or documentation.
Notably, Chhayakar’s offenses were linked to previous cases involving former UAE players Qadeer Khan and Gulam Shabbir. Both Khan and Shabbir accepted sanctions after admitting to breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code due to approaches they received from Chhayakar.
Alex Marshal, ICC’s general manager for the Integrity Unit, emphasized that Chhayakar’s involvement in organizing a corrupt cricket tournament in Ajman in 2018 initially brought him to the attention of the authorities. “The charges for which he has now received a lengthy ban are further examples of his continuing efforts to corrupt and damage our sport,” Marshal added. He further asserted that the ICC would relentlessly pursue and disrupt those attempting to corrupt cricket. The 14-year ban handed down by the Tribunal sends a clear message to anyone intending to compromise the integrity of the game.
Furthermore, the International Betting Integrity Association, a global anti-match-fixing body, recently reported that 76 matches were flagged for suspicious betting activities during the third quarter of 2022.