Bangladesh cricketer Nasir Hossain has been banned by the ICC from all cricket for two years after breaching the Emirates Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Code.
Hossain, who last played for Bangladesh in 2018, accepted three charges of corruption breaches. One of those included Article 2.4.3, having failed to disclose the receipt of a gift worth over $750 (£591/€690), namely a new iPhone 12.
Hossain was one of eight players and officials linked with the Pune Devils franchise charged. The offences were in relation to attempts to corrupt Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League matches in 2021. While the attempts were disrupted, the charges have still been brought forward.
With six months of his two-year ban suspended, Hossain will be eligible to play international cricket again in April 2025.
Pune Devils co-owners and staff also facing punishment
Along with Hossain, the ICC also flagged a number of Pune Devils coaching staff, as well as co-owners Krishan Kumar Chaudhary and Parag Sanghvi.
Chaudhary faces charges of breaching Article 2.4.5 on passing information to the relevant authorities on corrupt activities. Chaudhary is also accused of obstructing or delaying an investigation (Article 2.4.7), as well as Article 2.4.6.
Sanghvi, meanwhile, is accused of breaching Article 2.2.1 on placing bets on cricket matches, in addition to Article 2.4.6 and failing to co-operate with investigations.
Others encountering charges include batting coach Ashar Zaidi and team manager Shadab Ahamed. They are accused of breaching rules related to corruption in cricket, as is assistant coach Sunny Dhillon.
Former West Indies star Samuels banned for six years
Marlon Samuels, a two-time T20 World Cup winner with the West Indies, also received a six-year ban from the ICC back in November for anti-corruption breaches.
An independent anti-corruption tribunal found Samuels, who retired from cricket in 2020, guilty of four offences. The corrupt behaviour occurred during the 2019 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League. Samuels was also part of the Pune Devils, then called the Karnataka Tuskers.
Samuels is banned from taking part in any professional cricket events until 2029. Authorities also banned Samuels in 2008 for two years after finding him guilty of corruption offences.
