ICC warns nations against potential corrupt approach from Kenya international

The amount of corruption present in cricket is rampant, and the ongoing antics by various parties continue to baffle the administrators. However, a potential approach by a former Kenya international to a player from Uganda at the T20 World Cup 2024 was quickly dealt with. 

As per several reports, the incident happened during the group stage phase of the marquee tournament. A former Kenyan player attempted to make contact with one of Uganda’s cricketers from different numbers. 

Following the protocols of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, the player from Uganda quickly reported the incident to ACU officials on site, which saw the associate nations being warned about the game. 

"It is not a surprise that this person targeted a player from the Ugandan national team. Associate nations, as compared to the big teams, are soft targets for corruption, but in this case, the player who was approached did the needful by informing the ICC at the earliest," a source in the know was quoted as saying by IndiaToday. 

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It is worth noting that failure to report a corrupt approach is punishable and is an offence under the ICC’s anti-corruption code. The other offences include match-fixing, betting on the game, misuse of inside information, and failing to cooperate with an investigation.

"Players are approached all the time, more so by smaller nations. In bigger events like the T20 World Cup, there is more scrutiny and if an approach is conveyed to the ICC ACU, then due protocol is followed and a proper investigation is conducted," another source said.

Furthermore, it is interesting that most international players are regularly briefed about a potential threat and well-educated in terms of the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Recently, the ICC also made some changes in its anti-corruption laws  to further strengthen its governing body  "to proactively and thoroughly investigate incidents of corruption in the ongoing effort to protect the integrity of the game."