Bangladesh (Commonwealth) _ Nasir Hossain, an all-rounder for Bangladesh, was found guilty on three counts of breaking the Emirates Cricket Board’s anti-corruption code and was therefore banned from all cricket for two years, with the first six months of the punishment being postponed.
Hossain acknowledged to three accusations after being accused in September 2023 by the ICC in its position as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official under the ECB Code.
The ICC said in a statement that Charge No. 1 pertains to a Breach of Article 2.4.3 of the Code since he neglected to notify the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (without needless delay) that he had received a gift worth more than US$750, specifically a new iPhone 12. Additionally, he neglected to provide the Designated Anti-Corruption Official with a complete account of the approach or invitation he got to use the new iPhone 12 for corrupt conduct.
Charge No. 3: Violation of Article 2.4.6 of the Code; he neglected to assist the Designated Anti-Corruption Official in their investigation of potential corrupt conduct as defined by the Code, including (without limitation) neglecting to give the Designated Anti-Corruption Official all the information and/or material they require (whether as part of a formal Demand made in accordance with Article 4.3 or otherwise) as part of the probe. The 32-year-old reportedly acknowledged the allegations and consented to the punishment.
“The ICC further stated that on April 7, 2025, he will be able to return playing international cricket, provided he satisfies the requirements for the suspended portion of the sentence. In the 2020–21 Abu Dhabi T10, Hossain was one of eight Pune Devils franchise members who faced charges related to suspected corruption. Hossain has played 19 Tests, 65 ODIs, and 31 T20s for Bangladesh. 2018 saw him play his final national team game.
In the meantime, a new development in Pakistan’s cricket landscape has put important players Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal in the spotlight, but not because of their on-field exploits. The pair is being investigated after Shehzad left a local match in Karachi against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), where he was playing for the Umar Akmal-captained Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Because of back pain, Ahmed Shehzad left the game before it was over and went to Lahore to get checked out. The SNGPL filed an official complaint when he abruptly left, claiming that he had broken domestic cricket rules. The event is now being considered for inquiry by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which should it be confirmed, may subject the players and their team to harsh punishment.
There might be dire repercussions. Shehzad and the replacement outfield may be suspended for one match, while Umar Akmal, the captain, might be suspended for two. The coach or manager of the team may also face a heavy punishment of at least PKR 20,000 in addition to having the team’s game-winning points taken away. WAPDA defeated SNGPL by 144 runs in spite of Shehzad’s absence, however this success can be overshadowed by the continuing issue.
The PCB is now embroiled in controversy amid suspected match-fixing incidents involving many cricket players, raising doubts about the integrity of domestic matches in Pakistan at the time of this occurrence. Muhammad Hafeez, the new director of Pakistan cricket, has been highlighting the value of local cricket and implementing big reforms that not all players have found to be agreeable.
The cricket community and fans eagerly await the PCB’s decision on how to proceed in relation to the Shehzad-Akmal incident. Even as the sport develops and grows in Pakistan, the incident has sparked a discussion on the value of self-control and following the rules.
