The head of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit says he remains confident cricket fans “can trust what they are seeing”, in the wake of two UAE players being found guilty of contriving to fix international matches.
Mohammed Naveed and Shaiman Anwar were this week found guilty of corruption offences which carry with them the potential for lifetime bans from the sport.
An independent tribunal ruled they had been planning to fix aspects of matches at the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier, and discussed sums ranging up to $270,000 for the work.
Naveed, who was the UAE captain until the time the duo were provisionally suspended in October 2019, was also found guilty of similar charges related to the Abu Dhabi T10, which was set to follow that Qualifier.
Alex Marshall, the general manager of the ICC ACU, said the tribunal’s verdict sent a strong message about corruption.
"It is always sad to see these events happening in cricket, but it is also very good to see bad people prevented from committing corruption," Marshall told The National.
“It sends a strong message to anyone else who might be tempted. This was a plot to corrupt international cricket and the T10.
“The plot was stopped, but there was no doubt of the dishonest intent of these two, and what they would have done if they had gone through with the fixing.”
The sanctions facing the players are likely to be confirmed in around two weeks’ time.
Once the judgement was announced, the ACU and the two players were invited to write to the tribunal to suggest what they each feel would be a suitable punishment.
Naveed had already turned down an agreed sanction with the ACU, in favour of taking the case to tribunal.
Having now been found guilty, five years is the minimum suspension they will face. In likelihood, it could be as much as 20 years, or even the maximum of a life ban.
The ACU had presented around 400 pages of evidence to the tribunal, while Naveed and Shaiman were each represented by lawyers when the case was heard remotely back in November.
After two months, the tribunal published a 46-page report reasoning out their decision.
It said the tribunal were “comfortably satisfied” the players had “contrived to fix the result, progress, conduct or other aspect of one or more international matches”, as well as their failure to report an approach to do so.
“Their behaviour was wholly inconsistent with that of persons repelled by a corrupt approach; and wholly consistent with that of persons who either instigated such an approach or were willing recipients of one,” the report stated.
Marshall, whose team will be overseeing the 2021 season of the Abu Dhabi T10, which starts on Thursday, said they remain focused on protecting the sport.
“I am very pleased with the thoroughness of the investigation by my staff,” Marshall said.
“We will carry on protecting cricket from the small number of people who threaten to damage the game for everyone who watches or plays it.
“We keep a close eye on all high-level cricket, particularly international cricket. I remain confident that fans can trust what they are seeing.
“However, there are corrupters out there, who are trying to get into the game, trying to find people who are willing to do he wrong thing, trying to make profits from illegal betting.
“We will not drop our guard in pursuing and disrupting corrupters.”
Naveed reiterated that he failed to report a corrupt approach, but still maintains he is innocent of the charge of planning to fix.
“On the first day, I accepted that was my mistake – not reporting,” Naveed said. “I accept that I should be punished for that, but not the second charge.”
Shaiman could not be contacted for comment.
The Emirates Cricket Board have yet to comment on the guilty verdict of the duo.
Three other UAE players – Qadeer Ahmed, Ashfaq Ahmed and Amir Hayat – remain suspended, pending separate corruption investigations.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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