ICC, Emirates Cricket Board charge 8 officials and players for corruption during Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (September 19) informed as many as eight persons, including players, officials, and team owners, were slapped with charges pertaining to the breach of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code.

These graft charges were levelled during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League held between November 19 to December 4, 2021. The corruption scandal has once again cast a shadow over cricket's reputation and ethics.

As per the global cricket body, an investigation was carried out by the Designated Anti Corruption Official (DACO), on the ECB's behalf, which led to the charges being issued.

A total of eight individuals - which include the co-owners of teams, a batting coach, a team manager, and several players - were charged for breach of multiple sections of ICC's Anti-Corruption Code.

The charges were levelled against individuals such as Krishan Kumar Chaudhary and Parag Sanghvi, co-owners of a team, accused of failing to disclose full details of incidents indicating corrupt conduct. Ashar Zaidi, a coach & Rizwan Javed, and Saliya Saman, domestic players, were targeted for their attempts to improperly influence matches.

Sunny Dhillon, an assistant coach, and Nasir Hossain, a player from Bangladesh, were accused of failing to disclose gifts and approaches for Corrupt Conduct. Lastly, a team manager, Shadab Ahamed, has been charged for reluctance to cooperate in the investigation.

ICC DOCA Charges Against the Offenders

Krishan Kumar Chaudhary: Article 2.4.5 - Failing to disclose to the DACO (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code by another Participant.

Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Article 2.4.7 - Obstructing or delaying a DACO investigation into possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Parag Sanghvi: Article 2.2.1 - Placing bets on the results, progress, conduct or other aspect of International and Domestic Matches.

Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Ashar Zaidi: Article 2.1.1 - Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.

Article 2.1.4 - Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Article 2.1.

Article 2.4.4 - Failing to disclose to the DACO full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Rizwan Javed: Article 2.1.1 - Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.

Article 2.1.3 - Offering a Reward to another Participant in exchange for that player engaging in Corrupt Conduct.

Article 2.1.4 - Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.

Article 2.4.4 - Failing to disclose to the DACO full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Saliya Saman: Article 2.1.1 - Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.

Article 2.1.3 - Offering a Reward to another Participant in exchange for that player engaging in Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Article 2.1.4 - Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.

Sunny Dhillon: Article 2.1.1 - Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.

Article 2.4.4 - Failing to disclose to the DACO full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Nasir Hossain (Bangladesh player): Article 2.4.3 - Failing to disclose to the DACO receipt of a gift worth over $ 750.

Article 2.4.4 - Failing to disclose to the DACO full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Shadab Ahamed: Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

As a result of these charges, six of the accused - Krishan Kumar Chaudhary, Parag Sanghvi, Azhar Zaidi, Rizwan Javed, Saliya Saman, and Sunny Dhillon - have been provisionally suspended. All concerned parties have been notified of the charges and given a 14-day period, commencing from September 19, 2023, to respond.

Such incidents are disheartening and they are a solemn reminder of the need for constant vigilance in keeping sports clean and free from corruption. However, the swift action taken by the ICC and ECB reassures fans that proactive steps are being taken to preserve cricket's reputation.

T Ten Sports Management Releases Statement on ICC Charges

After ICC revealed the names of players and team owners, involved in corrupt practices, the T Ten Sports Management expressed disappointment over the charges levied against eight participants of the tournament held in the UAE.

"We take all allegations of this nature seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of corruption. We will continue to work closely with the ICC on our calendar of T10 tournaments and do everything within our control to ensure the integrity of cricket is upheld," a release from T Ten Sports Management claimed.