UAE Suffer Match-Fixing Suspensions Ahead Of T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Just a handful of days before the start of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, UAE have been rocked by a match-fixing scandal. As many as four players from UAE including skipper Mohammed Naveed have been charged under the ICC anti-corruption code and provisionally suspended.

UAE captain Mohammad Naveed was withdrawn from the Emirates squad without explanation on Thursday (October 10). On the other hand, top-order batsman Shaiman Anwar and seamer Qadeer Ahmed were likewise withdrawn ahead of UAE’s first warm-up match against Scotland on Monday, with Ahmed Raza taking over the captaincy.

Read More: Mustafizur Rahman Needs To Prove His Fitness Ahead Of India Tour, Says Chief Selector

And while the cricketing world was speculating about the reason behind the withdrawals, the ICC revealed the real reason on Wednesday. All the three accused players along with local player Mehardeep Chhayakar, have been suspended under the ICC’s anti-corruption code on charges relating to conspiracy to fix the upcoming tournament or failure to cooperate with the ACU investigation.

The Emirates team management had already called up three players, seamers Junaid Siddique and Waheed Ahmed and batsman Darius D’Silva, as cover for the trio in their warm-up matches. The tournament’s technical committee has also approved the addition of the three replacements.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma Hilariously Trolls Shardul Thakur On His Birthday

Waheed impressed in the warm-up against Scotland. He picked up 3 wickets for just 18 runs off his four overs to help his team register a comfortable 37-run win. He also took three wickets against Papua New Guinea on Tuesday while D’Silva made an unbeaten 43. UAE, however, have received a huge blow with the absence of their strike bowler and skipper Naveed being the highlight.

Naveed has been UAE’s most stand-out performer in recent times. He was the star of the show when his country registered its first-ever victory over a Full Member at the 50-over WC Qualifiers last year by beating Zimbabwe. He had also made it to the top ten of the ICC T20 bowling rankings although for a short period of time.

The players have 14 days from October 16 to respond to the charges, said the ICC in a press statement.

Here are the details of the charge labelled against the four players:

Mohammed Naveed

Breach of Article 2.1.1 – 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.

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 also been charged with a further two breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board Code for the T10 League. The ICC has been appointed by the ECB as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official for the purposes of the ECB’s Code at the T10 League (as it had in previous editions) and as such has issued the following two charges on the ECB’s behalf:

Breach of Article 2.1.1 – 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 T10 League 2019

Breach of Article 2.4.4 – 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 Ahmed Khan

Breach of Article 2.4.4 – 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 v UAE series in April 2019.

Breach of Article 2.3.2 – disclosing Inside Information to Mehar Chhayakar in August 2019 in circumstances where he knew or should have known that the information might be used for betting purposes.

Breach of Article 2.4.4 – 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 Netherlands v UAE series in August 2019.

Read More: BCCI’s President-Elect Sourav Ganguly Shares His Views On MS Dhoni’s Future

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.

Breach of 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.

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

Shaiman Anwar Butt

Breach of Article 2.1.1 – 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.

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.

Mehardeep Chhayakar

Breach of 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.