The ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 taking place in the West Indies and the USA has found itself in the middle of an ugly controversy. A potential approach from a former Kenya international to a Uganda player in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 has caught the attention of ICC’s anti-corruption unit.
T20 World Cup 2024: ICC Takes Action After Player Approached For Match-Fixing
Well, according to a report by PTI, the controversial incident took place during the league stage games in Guyana, where a former Kenya pacer tried to approach a Uganda bowler multiple times from different numbers.
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All thanks to the Uganda seamer for acting swiftly and for reporting the alleged crime to ICC’s anti-corruption unit. The name of the Uganda seamer has not been disclosed.
Credit also goes to ICC’s Anti-Corruption too acted swiftly on the matter and warned all the associate nations of a possible ‘match-fixing’ approach from the former Kenya international.
“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 PTI.
Notably, it is important for any player, who has been approached by a bookie, to report the incident to the ICC because if they fail to do so in time, they too would be booked under corruption charges and can face a potential ‘life ban’.
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“Players are approached all the time, more so from smaller nations. In bigger events like the T20 World Cup, there is more scrutiny and if an approach is conveyed to the ICC ACU, then due protocol is followed and a proper investigation is conducted,” said another source.
Talking about Uganda’s campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, they ended the tournament with a memorable win against Papua New Guinea. They suffered defeats against Afghanistan, New Zealand, and the West Indies. Uganda, who made their debut in the World Cup this year, played three of their four league games in Guyana.
All the international players are regularly warned about a potential threat. The players are well-versed in the anti-corruption code.
What does the anti-corruption code say?
The ICC made a few chances in its anti-corruption code, with effect from June 1, to empower the governing body and its member boards to “proactively and thoroughly investigate incidents of corruption in the ongoing effort to protect the integrity of the game.”
“The anti-corruption code covers all cricket (whether international or domestic) played under the auspices of the ICC and its Members and applies to all Participants; player, coach, trainer, manager, selector, team owner or official, doctor, physiotherapist, match referee, pitch curator, player agent, umpires, as well as ICC and NCF Officials.”
The Code binds participants for 2 years after participating in official cricket.
“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,” reads an extract from the ICC anti-corruption code for participants.
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