Two United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricketers Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar Butt have been banned from all cricketing formats by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for eight years for breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
The ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found them guilty and their bans have been backdated to October 16, 2019, when they were temporarily suspended for attempting to corrupt games at the ICC T20 World Cup 2019 in the UAE.
Both cricketers were found guilty of breaching Article 2.1.1 and Article 2.4.4 of the Anti- Corruption Code.
The cricketers breached Article 2.1.1 “for being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match or matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019,” stated an ICC release.
According to the release, they were also booked under Article 2.4.4 for “failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019”.
In addition to that, Naveed was also guilty of breaching two counts of the Emirates Cricket Board Anti-Corruption Code while participating in the T10 League in 2019.
“Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar represented their adopted country, the UAE at the highest level in cricket. Naveed was the captain and leading wicket-taker. Anwar was the opening bat. Both had long international careers and were well versed in the threat from match-fixers,” said Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager of Integrity Unit.
“That they both chose to engage with this corrupt activity was a cynical betrayal of their positions, their teammates, and all supporters of UAE cricket.
“I am pleased that the independent Tribunal has imposed significant bans from all forms of cricket and this should serve as a warning to any cricketer who considers taking the wrong path,” the release said
