ICC Signals A Warning To Member Boards Over Players Getting Approached By Bookies Via Social Media During Lockdown

The ICC has issued a warning to its member boards citing its concern over players getting approached by bookmakers via social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, etc during the Covid-19 enforced lockdown.

Social Media has helped in bridging the communication barrier between fans and public figures and the recent lockdown due to the proliferation of Covid-19 has once again testified that to the hilt.

Cricketers have taken to Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms to engage with their fans while also conducting live chat sessions with their fellow players.

But unfortunately, it may have also connected a few of them to the bookies. According to a report published in CricBuzz, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, in its letter to the member boards, has alluded to these social media platforms of having a ‘darker’ side.

“With most of the world experiencing lockdowns and restrictions, it has left many with time on their hands, some of which can be filled on social media. The creativity some have shown has been remarkable but there is a darker side,” states the letter before making a note of the approaches made during the lockdown,” the letter said as quoted by CricBuzz.

“We have seen evidence that corruptors are using their time to contact players through social media, particularly Instagram, Whatsapp and Facebook,” it added.

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USA cricketers approached by bookmakers via social media: ICC

The International Cricket Council [ICC] has issued a warning to its member boards citing its concern over players getting approached by bookmakers via social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, etc during the Covid-19 enforced lockdown.

According to the aforementioned report published in CricBuzz, two of the players approached by the corruptors hail from the United State of America’s men’s team.

While one of the players was approached with an individual- who is already on the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit- offering him a kit sponsorship, the details of the second approach is still under investigation.

This is not the first time that players belonging to the USA men’s team have been approached by the bookmakers. Last year, two players from the USA were approached right before the draft of the Global Canada T20 League.

The corruptors had approached the players via telephone, asking them to adhere to their demands in the lieu of getting picked in the auctions. One of those players even got picked in the auctions but he eventually had to withdraw from the tournament after he failed to get the ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the USA cricket board.

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