ICC Bans Pune Devils Officials for Corruption During 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, that Ashar Zaidi, the batting coach for the Pune Devils, along with team co-owners Parag Sanghavi and Krishan Kumar Choudhary, have been banned due to their involvement in corrupt practices during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Ashar Zaidi, a Karachi-born all-rounder with British citizenship who has played extensively in English leagues, has been handed a five-year ban from all cricket-related activities. Meanwhile, co-owners Sanghavi and Choudhary have each received two-year bans for breaching the Emirates Cricket Board’s anti-corruption regulations.
These sanctions are effective retroactively from September 19, 2023, when the individuals were first provisionally suspended. The ICC charged a total of eight individuals on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board in September 2023, with Zaidi, Sanghavi, and Choudhary among those involved.
Details of the Charges:
- Ashar Zaidi (Batting Coach):
- Article 2.1.4: Soliciting or facilitating any participant to engage in corrupt conduct.
- Article 2.4.4: Failing to disclose any approaches or invitations to engage in corrupt conduct to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO).
- Parag Sanghavi (Team Co-owner):
- Article 2.2.1: Placing bets on the results, progress, or conduct of international and domestic matches.
- Article 2.4.6: Failing to cooperate with the DACO’s investigation without compelling justification.
- Krishan Kumar Choudhary (Team Co-owner):
- Article 2.4.5: Failing to disclose any incident or matter that may indicate corrupt conduct by another participant to the DACO.
- Article 2.4.6: Failing to cooperate with the DACO’s investigation without compelling justification.
The ICC’s decision underscores the seriousness of maintaining the integrity of the sport, with strict measures taken to address any form of corruption. These bans serve as a strong reminder of the ICC’s zero-tolerance policy towards corrupt practices in cricket.
