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ICC bans Irfan Ansari for 10 years for breaching anti-corruption code

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday imposed a 10-year ban on UAE cricket official Irfan Ansari for breaching its anti-corruption code.

International Cricket Council headquarters (AFP Photo)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday imposed a 10-year ban from all cricket on UAE cricket official Irfan Ansari for breaching its anti-corruption code.

Ansari had approached Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed during in 2017 during Sri Lanka series in UAE for soliciting information from him. The conduct was deemed corrupt by the ICC.

Sarfraz had ‘immediately’ informed the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit about the approach.

Following a tribunal hearing, Ansari, who has been associated with UAE cricket under various capacities ranging from age-group coach to team manager, was found guilty of the following three offences under the Code:

Article 2.3.3 – directly soliciting, inducing, enticing or encouraging a participant to breach the Code Article 2.3.2 by disclosing inside information.

Article 2.4.6 – failure or refusal to cooperate with the ACU’s investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely the information and / or documentation requested by the ACU in October 2017. This included a request by the ICC ACU to take possession of and/or copy or download information from his mobile devices.

Article 2.4.6 – failure or refusal to cooperate with the ACU’s investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely the information and/or documentation requested by the ACU in February 2018. Again this included a request by the ICC ACU to take possession of and/or copy or download information from his mobile devices.

Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager, ACU thanked Sarfraz for showing true leadership and professionalism for reporting the incident and then subsequently supporting the investigation.

“I’d like to place on record my thanks to Sarfaraz Ahmed who showed true leadership and professionalism from the moment he reported this approach. He recognised it for what it was, rejected it and reported it. He then supported our investigation and subsequent tribunal,” Marshall said in a media release.

He added, “This is the first time we have prosecuted for failure to cooperate with an investigation since the new rules enabling us to demand the participants hand over their phone for examination and the sanction reflects the seriousness of the offence. It is an important tool to aid our investigations and continue in our efforts to rid the sport of these corrupters.”

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