Two UAE cricketers provisionally suspended by ICC for breaching anti-corruption code

The International Cricket Council (ICC) charged two United Arab Emirates (UAE) players Amir Hayat and Ashfaq Ahmed on Sunday (September 13) with five counts of breaching cricket's anti-corruption rules while suspended them provisionally with immediate effect. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) had already suspended Ashfaq during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier back in October 2019, however, no formal charges were laid so far.

Both Amir and Ashfaq have been charged with the following breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code under Article 2.1.3 (Seeking, accepting, offering or agreeing to accept any bribe or other reward), Article 2.4.2 (failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or other benefit), Article 2.4.3 (non-contractual benefits offered to a participant that have a value of USD 750 or more), Article 2.4.4 (failing to report any approaches or invitations received by the participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code) and 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).

Both players now have 14 days from September 13 to respond to the charges laid by ICC. The governing body of cricket will also not make any further comment in respect of these charges at this stage.