ICC bans UAE cricketers Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar for eight years

ICC bans UAE cricketers Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar for eight years

The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned United Arab Emirates players Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar Butt for a period of 8 years after the two were found guilty by the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal of breaching the Anti-Corruption Code in early 2021. The breach is said to have taken place in 2019 when the duo attempted corrupting matches during the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers in UAE.

The two were found guilty of breaching Articles 2.1.1 and 2.4.4 of the code. The articles prohibit players from 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’.

Players must also report all details of ‘any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct’ which the duo did not.

ICC releases statement about the duo’s bans

Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar
Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar

Alex Marshall, the General Manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit said in a statement, “Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar represented their adopted country, the UAE at the highest level in cricket. Both had long international careers and were well versed in the threat from match fixers. That they both chose to engage with this corrupt activity was a cynical betrayal of their positions, their teammates, and all supporters of UAE cricket.”

“I am pleased that the independent Tribunal has imposed significant bans from all forms of cricket and this should serve as a warning to any cricketer who considers taking the wrong path,” he added.

The 8-year ban for the two means that their international cricketing career is pretty much over due to the fact that Naveed is 33 while Anwar is 42.

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