Iqbal Abdullah reports to ACUS, money offered for team information from a ‘big fan’

Iqbal Abdullah reports to ACUS, money offered for team information from a ‘big fan’: Iqbal Abdullah, Mumbai’s left-arm spinner was offered money for Team information from an unknown man who approached him during IPL season 8. The episode happened in the first week of April while ongoing IPL 8. Iqbal, a member Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), reported the incident to the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ASCU) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Iqbal kept on getting calls from an unknown number and when he refused to answer, he received a text message from a person who, called himself a ‘big fan’ and said he was waiting at the hotel lobby and all he wanted was a picture. Iqbal casually, posed for the photographs when he was given the ‘offer’ for passing on information about the team. Abdullah reported to the entire incident to the ASCU officer.

Iqbal Abdullah, who is now playing for his club DY Patil in the KSCA shield in Bengaluru, when questioned about the incident didn’t make a statement and he neither confirmed nor denied the approach made to him. Meanwhile, the BCCI Secretary, Anurag Thakur too was not available for comments.

This is not the first time where a report has been made to the ASCU, another incident was reported prior to this during the last IPL. Praveen Tambe, again a spinner from Mumbai, had reported an offer made by a fellow cricketer. The batsman reported, Hiken Shah was suspended by the BCCI after 3 months of investigation, on the charges of breaking the Anti-Corruption Code for participants.

“Shah made a corrupt approach to one of his colleagues from first-class cricket, who is also a member of one of the IPL teams,” the BCCI press release had stated. As Shah’s participation in any cricket activity that is affiliated to BCCI was banned until a verdict was given.

There is an education program organized by the ASCU every year for the cricketers before any big tournament. Similarly, a session has been devoted to all the players before the IPL to educate players on fixing and other banned activities.