Suspensions related to match-fixing rock UAE prior to T20 Qualifiers

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Updated: October 17, 2019
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ThreeUAE Player Charged for Match fixing by ICC Including UAE Skipper

In a shocking development ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup Qualifier, to be hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), three players from the UAE including Mohammed Naveed, the national captain, have received charges under ICC’s anti-corruption code. They have received provisional suspension ahead of the vital qualifier tournament and Naveed has already been removed from the UAE team without any official explanations on the 10^th of October (Thursday).

Batsman Shaiman Anwar and pace bowler Qadeer Ahmed have also been removed from the first warm-up match played against Scotland by the UAE. Ahmed Raza, the left-arm pace bowler, will now be the captain of the team. All three players along with local cricketer Mehardeep Chhayakar, have received a suspension under the ICC’s anti-corruption code for charges linked to conspiracies for fixing the upcoming T20 World Cup Qualifier and failure to cooperate with the official ACU investigation.

The UAE team management had already arranged for backup in the form of Darius D’Silva (batsman) and pacers Waheed Ahmed and Junaid Siddique. The technical committee of the event has reportedly approved their inclusion in the official squad. Waheed played well against Scotland, picking up 3/18 in his 4 overs and 3 more wickets were bagged by him against Papua New Guinea. D’Silva also struck 43 not out at the top of the order. The suspension will still hurt the UAE squad who will be without their skilled captain and bowler Naveed and experienced batsman Anwar. Match-fixing has previously been flagged in the UAE cricketing circuit with Al-Jazeera releasing a controversial documentary last year, where fixers claimed that the UAE team was in their pocket including two pacers and three batsmen on the direct payroll who would under-perform deliberately.

An ACU investigation was spurred by footage that came from the Ajman All-Stars tournament in the same city where Chhayakar plays his game. Qadeer has been accused of providing information to Chhayakar which may have been used for betting purposes linked to the UAE’s tour to the Netherlands back in August. Chhayakar has been charged of refusal for cooperation with authorities in the investigation. Both Naveed and Anwar face charges of offences linked to fixing the T20 Qualifier and the former faces charges linked to the upcoming ECB T10 League as well.

Anwar is presently the highest-ranked batsman in the Emirates (T20I) and ranked 20^th globally. He is also the team’s leading scorer in T20 Internationals. Anwar was also the third highest run-scorer in Canada’s Global T20. Naveed was a star with both bat and ball at UAE’s win over Zimbabwe. He was made captain earlier in 2019 after Rohan Mustafa was punished for comments on facilities provided at the Asia Cup.

All three accused have a period of 14 days from 16^th October, 2019, onwards, for submitting their responses to these allegations. Here are the specific charges against the three 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.

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 2.4.5 – 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.