MATCH-FIXING?

ICC opens investigation of corruption against Ajman All Stars League

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

"There is currently an ICC Anti-Corruption Unit investigation underway in relation to the Ajman All Stars League held recently in Ajman, UAE" - Alex Marshall © Getty

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that an Anti-Corruption Unit investigation has begun in relation to the Ajman All Stars League, a private cricket tournament held in UAE recently.

"There is currently an ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigation underway in relation to the Ajman All Stars League held recently in Ajman, UAE," ICC general manager - Anti-Corruption, Alex Marshall, said. "The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit works to uphold integrity in Cricket and in keeping with that role we are talking to players and officials and will not make any further comment at this time."

A video footage of a match from the private league has been doing the rounds on social media, where batsmen appear to be throwing their wickets away on purpose. Batsmen charging down the track and letting the ball go, or running almost till the other end of the crease and then trying to return when there was no run to be taken, raised suspicion among fans.

The video:

"The event was not approved or in any way sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and therefore neither the ECB nor the ICC has authority to take action under cricket's anti-corruption rules against anybody who may have engaged in any corrupt practice."

"However after speaking to a number of those involved we consider there to be strong evidence to indicate this was a corrupt event and damaging to the wider reputation of cricket and as such will continue the investigation. Our ongoing enquiries will now focus on identifying the organisers of the tournament to prevent similar incidents occurring elsewhere and to disrupt corrupt practices wherever we can.

"In addition, all Member Boards whose players have participated in this event will be asked to consider whether by doing so, those players are in breach of any other applicable rules, including those that prohibit participation in unsanctioned cricket, and if so for disciplinary action to be taken against them."

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who served a jail sentence and a suspension for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal of 2010 has also played in the league, along with the likes of Hasan Raza, Muhammad Khalil and few others. None of them, however, were seen featuring in the video that has been doing the rounds.

**Copy updated after further confirmation from the ICC about their investigation

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