(Photo Source: PTI)
Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain played his last international game in January 2018 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka in an ODI against Sri Lanka. He played 19 Tests, 65 ODIs, and 31 T20Is for his country. The 31-year-old landed in hot water after the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) slammed corruption charges on him and seven other people who were associated with the Pune Devils franchise in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament. The charges concern the 2020-21 edition of the tournament which was held in Abu Dhabi.
Co-owners, members of the coaching staff, as well as players, have been charged. Apart from Nasir, charges have been pressed against Krishan Kumar Chaudhary and Parag Sanghvi (two of the Devils’ co-owners), Rizwan Javed and Saliya Saman (two domestic players), as well as Ashar Zaidi (batting coach), Sunny Dhillon (assistant coach) and Shadab Ahamed (team manager).
The Devils participated in the Abu Dhabi T10 League for the last time in 2021. They finished last in that edition of the tournament, winning just one out of six matches in the Super League stage. The eight people who have been charged have two weeks to respond to the charges starting from Tuesday, September 19.
Players and officials have been charged with betting and related corrupt practices
Nasir Hossain did not report after receiving a gift worth more than USD 750, which is an offence as per the ACU code. On the other hand, Zaidi, Javed, Saman, and Dhillon have been charged with “being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches.” Sanghvi faces the charge of “placing bets on the results, progress” of an encounter.
Besides, Javed and Saman also face a separate charge of “offering a reward in exchange for that player engaging in” corrupt practice. Incidents like these have surfaced before in the sport and the stains are quite hard to get rid of.