Two Hong Kong players banned for life by ICC

Two former Hong Kong players have been banned for life with a third banned for five years after the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found them guilty of breaching their Anti-Corruption Code yesterday.

Irfan Ahmed and Nadeem Ahmed were given the life bans, with Haseeb Amjad handed a five-year ban.

Irfan Ahmed was deemed guilty of nine offences under the Code, with offences stretching back to Hong Kong’s World Cup Qualifying campaign in New Zealand in January 2014, as well as Hong Kong’s effort in the World T20 two months later. Irfan’s offences not only included the act of fixing or contriving during matches, but failing to perform to one’s abilities, failing to disclose approaches or invitations and seeking/accepting a bribe.

Nadeem Ahmed, brother of Irfan, was found guilty of multiple offences, also dating back to Hong Kong’s 2014 World Cup and World T20 campaigns. His last was as recent as 2016, found guilty of seeking/accepting a bribe during the 2016 World T20 in India. Haseeb, who escaped a life ban, had all three of his offences related to Hong Kong’s match against Canada during the 2014 World Cup Qualifier.

The three were suspended provisionally in October last year, meaning Haseeb can continue playing cricket from late 2023.

Cricket Hong Kong, who had already suspended the three players earlier this year, confirmed the findings in a press release.

“Cricket Hong Kong has confirmed that three former Hong Kong players have been found guilty by an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

“Cricket Hong Kong is committed to protecting the integrity of cricket and will take every step in its power to prevent corrupt practices undermining the integrity of the sport, including any efforts to improperly influence the outcome or any other aspect of any match; and to preserve public confidence in the readiness, willingness and ability of both the ICC and Cricket Hong Kong to protect the sport from such corrupt practices.”