Qadeer Ahmed has urged other players to learn from his mistakes after he was handed a five-year ban from cricket that will likely end his career.
The former UAE fast bowler will be ineligible to play again until 2024, after accepting six charges of breaching cricket’s anti-corruption code.
His offences ranged from failing to report corrupt approaches, disclosing inside information, and obstructing the ICC’s investigation.
He was provisionally suspended in October 2019, along with his teammates Mohammed Naveed and Shaiman Anwar, each of whom was banned for corruption for eight years in a separate case earlier this year.
According to the ICC report into the case, Qadeer had fail to report an offer of Dh60,000 to Dh70,000 to “do bad bowling” in the UAE’s one-day international series in Zimbabwe in April 2019.
"In particular, they asked him to give away 70/80 runs while bowling," the report stated.
In the three matches he played in that series, Qadeer had figures of 1-57, 0-42, and 1-16.
The report said he remained in contact with one of the corruptors, whom he regarded as a friend, and provided inside information in relation to the UAE’s series in the Netherlands in August 2019.
The information related to which overs he would bowl against the Netherlands, and was offered “in circumstances where he knew that the information might be used for betting purposes,” according to the report.
The UAE side of the time, captained by Naveed, had a regimented game plan which meant the bowlers generally had a good idea of which overs they would bowl before the innings started.
Qadeer maintains he has never conspired to fix any aspects of matches, but acknowledged his actions were wrong.
I never took a single dirham and I never bowled any illegal ball in my career
"I never took a single dirham and I never bowled any illegal ball in my career," Qadeer told The National.
“But, I am sorry and gutted that, as per the ACU rules, I was wrong on different occasions.
“I should have informed them of whatever was happening around me, and should have informed them about approaches.
"I would like to encourage cricketers to please report the small things, even if they think it's not important.
“I know now nothing can be done, so I accept what my punishment is.”
Alex Marshall, the ICC’s head of integrity, said the five-year suspension reflected the seriousness of the charges.
“Qadeer [Ahmed] is an experienced international cricketer who has received anti-corruption training,” Marshall said.
“He should have avoided the people he knew were corrupt and reported any suspicions immediately.
“He has accepted he did wrong and requested an agreed sanction in place of a tribunal. His five-year period of ineligibility is a reflection of the seriousness of his breaches and the number of charges.
“He has accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed regret for those he has let down.”
Two more UAE players, opener Ashfaq Ahmed and fast-bowler Amir Hayat, are also awaiting judgement in their own cases after being charged with breaching anti-corruption rules.
Furthermore, in announcing the ban for Qadeer, the ICC have also added supplementary charges to those of Mehardeep Chhayakar.
When Naveed, Shaiman and Qadeer were provisionally suspended 18 months ago, Chhayakar was also charged with a number of offences.
In the intervening time, it is understood Chhayakar has been uncontactable by the ICC, which includes the investigators writing to his mother.
Described as having “played domestic cricket in Ajman,” he now faces six charges of breaching cricket’s ant-corruption code.
The ICC laid the charges on its own behalf as well as on behalf of Cricket Canada, related to the Global T20 tournament in 2019.
Chhayakar’s alleged offences include attempting to contrive to fix aspects of the Zimbabwe v UAE series in 2019, as well as the T20 tournament in Canada, and failing to cooperate with the ICC investigation.
The banned UAE players
Mohammed Naveed
- Role: Former captain and fast bowler
- Charges: He was found guilty of two breaches of anti-corruption rules. They included "being party to an agreement fix or influence improperly" matches at the T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019
- Ban: Eight years
Shaiman Anwar
- Role: Top-order batsman
- Charges: Like Naveed, he was found guilty of two charges, including conspiring to fix aspects of matches at the T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 in the UAE
- Ban: Eight years
Qadeer Ahmed
- Role: Fast bowler
- Charges: six counts of breaching cricket's anti-corruption code, including disclosing inside information that might have been used for betting purposes, and obstructing the investigation
- Ban: Five years
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
