Corruption in cricket remains a significant issue for the sport’s administrators. However, an attempt by a former Kenyan international to engage a Ugandan player in corrupt activities during the ongoing T20 World Cup was promptly addressed by the ICC’s anti-corruption unit. PTI has learned that this incident occurred during the league stage matches in Guyana. The former Kenyan pacer attempted to contact a member of the Ugandan team multiple times using different phone numbers. Adhering to the ICC’s stringent anti-corruption protocols, the Ugandan player reported these approaches to the ACU officials on-site.
This development led the officials to raise a red flag against the former Kenya player, informing all the associate teams about him.
“It is not a surprise that this person targeted a player from the Ugandan national team. Associate nations, as compared to the big teams, are soft targets for corruption but in this case the player who was approached did the needful by informing the ICC at the earliest,” a source told
Not reporting a corrupt approach is a violation of the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Other offenses include match-fixing, betting on matches, misusing inside information, and refusing to cooperate with investigations.
Uganda concluded their T20 World Cup campaign with a memorable win over Papua New Guinea and losses to Afghanistan, New Zealand, and the West Indies in Trinidad on Friday. As first-timers in the competition, alongside Canada and co-hosts USA, Uganda played three of their four league games in Guyana.
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Players, especially from smaller nations, are frequently approached. In major events like the T20 World Cup, there is increased scrutiny. When an approach is reported to the ICC ACU, the proper protocol is followed, and a thorough investigation is conducted, according to another source.
Effective June 1, the ICC revised its anti-corruption code to enhance its and its member boards’ ability to “proactively and thoroughly investigate incidents of corruption in the ongoing effort to protect the integrity of the game.” The anti-corruption code applies to all cricket, whether international or domestic, played under the ICC and its Members’ auspices. It covers all participants, including players, coaches, trainers, managers, selectors, team owners, officials, doctors, physiotherapists, match referees, pitch curators, player agents, umpires, and ICC and NCF Officials. Participants are bound by the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for a period of two years after their last involvement in any form of official cricket.
According to an extract from the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for participants, “The maximum possible sanction for the most serious breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code is a life ban from all involvement in the game. In some countries, there is also the possibility of criminal sanctions.”
All international players receive regular briefings about potential threats and are well-versed with the anti-corruption code. Corrupt approaches at major events are not a new phenomenon.
Back in the 2011 ODI World Cup in India, Canada’s then 20-year-old wicket-keeper Hamza Tariq was approached by alleged bookmakers. He promptly reported the matter to the authorities.
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