The International Cricket Council (ICC) is investigating a private Twety20 league in the United Arab Emirates, the sport’s global governing body has said, after footage of some farcical dismissals went viral on social media. A match in the Ajman All Stars League, which is not sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), saw several batsmen appear to throw their wickets in bizarre fashion, by running themselves out or getting stumped without trying to return to the crease, even when the wicketkeeper fumbled. “There is currently an ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigation underway in relation to the Ajman All Stars League held recently in Ajman, UAE,” ACU general manager Alex Marshall said in a statement on Wednesday. “The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit 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,” he added.
The tournament had to be called off on its second day after local cricket authorities refused to allow them to continue using the ground. The venue, Ajman Oval, a popular cricket ground in the country, has been suspended with immediate effect.
The tournament was a private one and since it is not sanctioned, it does not come under the purview as such of the Emirates Cricket Board
or the ICC. But the ICC
took notice after a video went viral in which batsmen appeared to be doing their best to get dismissed.
Efforts to return to the crease after charging the bowler were virtually non-existent, while suicidal attempts at runs and a lack of urgency and intensity raised eyebrows. The tournament involved expatriates from a number of South Asian countries, and a few former international players. One of the recruiters, acting as a player agent, was also involved in the tournament in Uganda that ended up being overshadowed by a pay dispute. Cricket in the UAE is mainly regulated by the Emirates Cricket Board with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman the most popular venues in the country. UAE is an associate member at the ICC whose club and department cricket actives are regulated by four major councils under the ECB’s watch.
