The International Cricket Council (ICC), acting on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), has issued corruption charges related to the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League. The charges involve attempts to corrupt matches, with several players, coaching staff, and team co-owners facing allegations. Notable individuals include Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain, Sri Lanka’s Saliya Saman, Rizwan Javed, and various team officials.
Charges and Allegations:
Charges have been issued under the ECB’s Anti-Corruption Code for participants in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. The charges relate to attempts to corrupt matches during the 2021 season. Notable breaches include failure to disclose gifts, corruption approaches, not cooperating with investigations, and being party to attempts to fix matches.
Individuals Facing Charges:
Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain is alleged to have breached several rules, including failing to disclose a gift over $750 and not cooperating with investigations into corruption approaches. Sri Lanka’s Saliya Saman and Rizwan Javed are also facing charges related to attempts to fix matches and offering rewards to other players to manipulate outcomes.
Officials and Team Owners Implicated:
The corruption charges extend to coaching staff and team co-owners. Krishan Kumar Chaudhary and Parag Sanghvi, co-owners of the Pune Devils (formerly Karnataka Tuskers), are accused of various breaches, including passing information on corrupt activities and placing bets on cricket matches. Other officials implicated include batting coach Ashar Zaidi, assistant coach Sunny Dhillon, and team manager Shadab Ahamed.
Suspensions and Response Period:
Several individuals, including Chaudhary, Sanghvi, Zaidi, Javed, Saman, and Dhillon, have been provisionally suspended. The accused have 14 days from 19 September to respond to the charges. It is unclear where Hossain and Ahamed stand in the case.
Broader Context:
This scandal follows earlier corruption charges in May, when West Indies batsman Devon Thomas faced seven counts of breaches under anti-corruption codes, including those of the ECB, Sri Lanka Cricket, and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Thomas was provisionally suspended as part of the ruling.
The corruption charges in the Abu Dhabi T10 League highlight the ongoing battle against match-fixing and corruption in cricket. It remains crucial for cricket authorities to address these issues rigorously to maintain the integrity and fairness of the sport.