United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricket team’s two senior cricketers Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar have been found guilty of two offenses each under the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code on Tuesday (January 26).
Naveed, former UAE captain, and batsman Anwar tried to fix matches in the 2019 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier and now they were both found to have breached two rules in the ICC anti-corruption code after being charged by the ICC in October 2019 for attempting to corrupt the matches.
The ICC has confirmed that Naveed and Anwar were each found guilty of two match-fixing offenses and they were also provisionally suspended for “attempting to corrupt matches” in the T20 World Cup qualifier 2019 following a hearing by an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal on Tuesday.
Naveed was also found guilty of breaking two counts of the Emirates Cricket Board corruption code in the T10 league has attempted to fix a match or matches in Abu Dhabi’s event in 2019.
The two have been found guilty of: “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.
Also, Article 2.4.4 - 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.”
Meanwhile, ICC said in a statement: “United Arab Emirates (UAE) players Mohammed Naveed and Shaiman Anwar Butt have been found guilty of two offenses each under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code following a hearing by an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal.”
The statement further reads: “Naveed and Shaiman, who were charged under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for attempting to corrupt matches of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 in the UAE, have been found guilty on all charges after they exercised their right to a hearing before a Tribunal. The pair remains suspended and sanctions will follow in due course.”
On the other hand, a witness, who reported the duo’s conduct to the ICC's anti-corruption unit, revealed that Naveed had boasted “I am the captain of the UAE, we can do anything.”
The ICC decision document added, “The matches mentioned were upcoming matches for UAE against Oman and Ireland. Mr. Naveed said that he would give away runs in his bowling overs and that Mr. Anwar if he was still in, would score a low amount of runs in his fourth and fifth overs.”
(With AFP/PTI Inputs)
