Emirates cricket tackles corruption scandals by appointing new head of security

Board promises to 'ensure cricket in the UAE is clean and transparent'

Emirates Cricket Board General Secretary Mubasshshir Usmani with newly appointed head of security and anti-corruption Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Azam Khan. ECB

The Emirates Cricket Board have responded to the scandal that has gripped the game here by appointing their own head of security and anti-corruption.

They have named retired Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Azam Khan in the role, as they bid to take a “firm stance against any activities of corruption”.

Five UAE players are currently banned from the game because of corruption issues.

Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar and Qadeer Ahmed are awaiting judgement after being charged by ICC with multiple counts of breaching cricket’s corruption code.

Ashfaq Ahmed and Ghulam Shabber are also suspended by the ECB, and are said to be part of the same investigation. They have not been formally charged.

“Through the appointment of Colonel Azam Khan, Emirates Cricket is taking a positive, firm stance against any activities of corruption,” Khalid Al Zarooni, the vice-chairman of the ECB, said.

“Colonel Khan will have the full and unwavering support of the board, and the wider management team in our commitment to ensure cricket in the UAE is clean and transparent.”

Khan was the general manager of security and anti-corruption for the Pakistan Cricket Board between 2013 and 2015.

He then held a similar role overseeing the anti-corruption operation of the Pakistan Super League, between 2016 and 2018.

Included in that role was the 2017 PSL spot-fixing investigation which led to Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan being banned for five years.