Karachi
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has charged three cricketers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including their captain Mohammad Naved, for violating its anti-corruption code.
Naveed, the captain, alongside Qadeer Ahmed Khan and Shaiman Anwar Butt, were alleged to have breached 13 counts of the world cricket body’s laws on corruption.
The trio was named as part of the UAE’s initial squad for the World Twenty20 (T20) qualifier that begins Friday but were withdrawn from the team later.
A statement issued by the ICC Wednesday evening confirmed that Mehardeep Chhayakar — a local cricketer who has participated in cricket in Ajman — has also been charged with multiple breaches of the anti-corruption code.
Captain Naved and Butt, the batter, were both charged for two violations Clause 2.1.1 related to “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 and T10 League 2019” and Clause 2.4.4 for “failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in conduct that would amount to corrupt conduct under the Code”.
Qadeer Khan, a fast bowler, was charged for six violations of the ICC’s anti-corruption code. The charges include two violations of Clause 2.4.4 for “failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in conduct that would amount to Corrupt Conduct” under the Code in relation to the Zimbabwe-UAE series in April 2019 and the Netherlands-UAE series in August 2019.
Khan was also charged for the breach of Article 2.3.2 for disclosing inside information to Chhayakar in August 2019 in circumstances where he “knew or should have known that the information might be used for betting purposes”.
Chhayakar was charged with breach of Article 2.4.6 for “failing or refusing to cooperate with an investigation being carried out by the ACU” in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.
Meanwhile, shortly after the ICC’s announcement, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement that it fully supported the ICC and its Anti-Corruption Unit in their efforts and denounced any corruption activities.
“The Board will wait for the conclusion of proceedings before making any further comment,” the UAE board said.—AFP
