Ajman All Stars League subject of ICC anti-corruption probe

Emirates Cricket Board and Ajman Cricket Council say T20 event was not sanctioned as video footage shows batsmen giving up their wickets with scarcely believable ease

In February, the ICC banned Sanath Jayasuriya, the former Sri Lanka captain and selector, from all cricket-related activities for two years. Satish Kumar / The National
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The Emirates Cricket Board have distanced themselves from a tournament in Ajman that is the subject of an ICC anti-corruption probe.

The game’s governing body in the UAE say the Ajman All Stars League, a Twenty20 event that involved locally based players, as well as overseas players from the subcontinent, was not sanctioned by either them or the ICC.

Ajman Cricket Council have also termed the competition “disapproved cricket” and say they have suspended the “affiliation of Ajman Oval,” where the matches were staged.

“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, the ICC general manager – Anti-Corruption, said in a statement.

“The ICC ACU 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.”

Footage from the competition, televised on Neo Sports, shows batsmen giving up their wickets with scarcely believable ease, most notable stumped and run out.

Videos have been widely shared online of the incidents, with commenters deriding the players and officials involved.

“The Emirates Cricket Board is aware that the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit is currently investigating the All Stars T20 Ajman,” Zayed Abbas, an ECB board member, said.

“The ECB can confirm that it did not approve the staging of this tournament, and has advised the ICC accordingly.”

Shaji Ul Mulk, the secretary general of Ajman Cricket Council, and the creator of the T10 League which proved so popular in Sharjah last month, said the event had not been approved by them.

“Ajman Oval has been found to be in violation of the affiliation agreement with Ajman Cricket Council and conducting disapproved cricket,” Ul Mulk said. “We had no option but to suspend the affiliation of Ajman Oval.”

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