Veteran coach Irfan Ansari banned from cricket for 10 years

Ansari worked with Sharjah Cricket Council for 30 years and was the head coach of the Sharjah Cricket Club.

Irfan Ansari, veteran cricket coach from the United Arab Emirates, has been slapped with a 10-year ban from all forms of cricket as he was found guilty of breaching three counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

During the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing, the Tribunal heard evidence that Ansari approached Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed during the Pakistan series with Sri Lanka in the UAE in October 2017 with a view to engaging him in corrupt conduct by soliciting information from him.

ICC General Manager – ACU Alex Marshall said, “I would like to place on record my thanks to Sarfraz Ahmed who showed true leadership and professionalism from the moment he reported this approach. He recognised it for what it was, rejected it and reported it. He then supported our investigation and subsequent tribunal.

“This is the first time we have prosecuted for failure to cooperate with an investigation since the new rules enabling us to demand the participants hand over their phone for examination and the sanction reflects the seriousness of the offence. It is an important tool to aid our investigations and continue in our efforts to rid the sport of these corrupters,” he added.

Ansari is bound by the code as a result of his affiliation to the Pakistan cricket team and also as a result of being a coach to two teams that participate in domestic matches in the UAE. He was found guilty of the three offences under the Code.