Rizwan Javed, UK-Based Cricketer, Receives Second-Lengthiest Ban By ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit

Only a Zimbabwe cricketer received a ban that was longer than this sanction imposed on Rizwan Javed by the ICC.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a ban on Rizwan Javed for 17-and-a-half years after he was found to have breached the anti-corruption code by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) multiple times. This happens to be the second-longest sentence handed out by the world cricket governing body to date. Javed was among eight players and officials that were initially charged by the body in September 2023 over corruption in Abu Dhabi T10 league.

For the unversed, only one cricketer has received a ban that was longer than this sanction by the ICC. Zimbabwe cricket official Rajan Nayar had received a sanction of 20 years in 2018 which happens to be the only instance of a player receving a ban of a longer duration than this. In a legal document of the ICC, it was clearly stated that Javed participated in matches for Cheadle Hulme Cricket Club until August 2019. However, he was investigated for his attempts to corrupt players in the T10 league, specifically those with the Pune Devils franchise during the 2020-21 season.

Rizwan Javed Has Shown No remorse and no respect for The Rules That Are In Place To Protect Our Sport: ICC General Manager Integrity

"Rizwan Javed has received a lengthy ban from cricket for his repeated and serious attempts to corrupt professional cricketers," the ICC general manager-integrity- Alex Marshall said, as per an official release. "He has shown no remorse and no respect for the rules that are in place to protect our sport. The sanction imposed should send a strong message to other corrupters trying to target cricket at any level and demonstrates that any attempt to corrupt cricket will be strongly dealt with," he added.

The ban, however, is backdated to September 2023 which was when the cricketer was provisionally suspended on. It was Michael J Beloff KC, chair of the ICC code of conduct committee, who handed out the decision.

As per an official release, the cricketer was found guilty of

"Article 2.1.1 – Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021 (on three separate occasions).

Article 2.1.3 – Offering a Reward to another Participant in exchange for that player engaging in Corrupt Conduct.

Article 2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1 (on three separate occasions).

Article 2.4.4 - Failing to disclose to the DACO full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Code.

Article 2.4.6 – Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code."