Reports: Friendly advice to foreign player leads Bhatinda-based umpire Jatin Kashyap to getting banned by ICC-BCCI

The ICC (International Cricket Council) charged Bhatinda-based umpire Jatin Kashyap for breaching two counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code on May 22 2023. Kashyap, who had not been officiating for four years was banned out of nowhere following an investigation into "international matches in 2022". Recently, a source has revealed the inside information of what actually transpired on the field that led to the ban of the umpire.

According to a report, Kashyap said that he knew the player and just wanted to help him. However, the reason was not convincing for the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) Anti-Corruption Unit which has asked the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) to ban him from all cricket-related activities. Kashyap had officiated in district-level matches in Punjab but is not on the BCCI panel.

"According to Kashyap, he knows the player who featured in international matches held in Dubai in 2022. Given his acquaintance, he advised the player to bat first if the team wins the toss during one of those matches. He claimed there was no ulterior motive as he wanted to help the cricketer by sharing his expertise," a source was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

However, the player informed about the message to ICC’s anti-corruption unit.

"Kashyap said the player met him once and since then we both know each other. As the player doesn't have Kashyap's number saved in his phone book, he grew suspicious on receiving a message from an unknown number. He immediately informed the ICC, which in turn started investigations,” the source added.

Kashyap was even asked to appear before ICC officials in Delhi for investigation twice but he didn’t turn up. Following this, he was charged for refusing and delaying the Anti-Corruption Unit’s (ACU) investigation, a breach of Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7.

He might be claiming innocence: Source

The source further said the Kashyap could be innocent but also could possibly be an information channel between a bookie and players.

"You never know what his intention was. He might be claiming innocence but he can also be a conduit between bookies or suspected individuals that's why the action was taken by the ICC and BCCI," the source further said.