ICC extends investigation into Ajman All Stars T20 league

Dubai [UAE], Feb 1 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday confirmed that it is continuing its investigation into the Ajman All Stars event, a private Twenty20 league held in the United Arab Emirates.

The Ajman T20 All-Stars league, which was not sanctioned by either the local Ajman Cricket Council, the Emirates Cricket Board or the ICC, was slated for a five-match series across three days in late January.

However, the private league was reportedly forced to shut down after just two days of competition after the local UAE officials denied the continuation of the competition at the Ajman Oval.

It was only after video clips of bizarre dismissals went viral in cricket world that the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) started taking some interest, cricket.com.au reported.

And now, the ICC's ACU general manager Alex Marshall revealed that they have "strong evidence" to suggest it was a corrupt league.

"The event was not approved or in any way sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and therefore neither the ECB nor the ICC has authority to take action under cricket's anti-corruption rules against anybody who may have engaged in any corrupt practice," he said.

"However after speaking to a number of those involved we consider there to be strong evidence to indicate this was a corrupt event and damaging to the wider reputation of cricket and as such will continue the investigation. Our ongoing enquiries will now focus on identifying the organisers of the tournament to prevent similar incidents occurring elsewhere and to disrupt corrupt practices wherever we can," Marshall added.

He further insisted that the ICC is likely to take strict action if the players of the Member Boards who have participated in this event found to have breached the governing body's code of conduct.

"In addition, all Member Boards whose players have participated in this event will be asked to consider whether by doing so, those players are in breach of any other applicable rules, including those that prohibit participation in unsanctioned cricket, and if so for disciplinary action to be taken against them," he said.

The league had reportedly involved players from the UAE, India, Pakistan and a small number from other cricket countries.(ANI)