A club cricketer from the UK, Rizwan Javed, found himself at the centre of a scandal when he received a severe punishment of a 17-and-a-half-year ban from all cricket activities. This disciplinary action stemmed from his involvement in match-fixing endeavours during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League. The ban, enforced on September 19, 2023, came after Javed neglected to address the charges brought against him, which implicated him in the league’s corruption.
Javed was one among eight individuals, including players and officials, charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) acting on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) in September of the previous year. Another notable name, Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain, also faced charges and is currently serving a two-year ban.
The charges against Javed were extensive, encompassing various articles of the Anti-Corruption Code. These included allegations of attempting to manipulate matches during the Abu Dhabi T10 2021 on multiple occasions, offering inducements to engage in corrupt activities, and failing to fully disclose approaches aimed at corrupt conduct.
Additionally, he faced accusations of failing or refusing, without justifiable reason, to cooperate with any investigations. By choosing not to respond to these charges, Javed effectively admitted guilt and forfeited his right to a hearing.
ICC General Manager, Alex Marshall said: “Rizwan Javed faces a substantial cricket ban due to multiple and significant efforts to corrupt professional players. The penalty aims to deter other individuals attempting to manipulate cricket at any level, emphasizing that any such endeavors will be severely addressed.”
The ICC conducted a thorough investigation, scrutinizing evidence such as communications and interactions involving Javed and other individuals. They also analyzed the circumstances surrounding the matches and the teams involved. Alex Marshall, the ICC’s General Manager of Integrity, supervised the investigation and ultimately decided to impose the hefty 17-and-a-half-year ban on Javed.
The Abu Dhabi T10 League, sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), commenced in 2017. The ICC’s decision to impose such a lengthy ban on Javed was intended to serve as a deterrent to others involved in corrupt practices and to underscore the ICC’s unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of cricket.
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