The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed a five-year ban to West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Devon Thomas. The 34-year-old admitted to reaching seven codes of anti-corruption codes of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Thomas' period of ineligibility has been backdated to May 23, 2023 when he was provisionally suspended. He will be eligible to resume playing all forms of cricket on May 24, 2028 when he will be 38 years old.
“Having played both international and professional domestic/franchise cricket, Devon attended numerous anti-corruption education sessions. He therefore knew what his obligations were under the Anti-Corruption Codes but failed to meet these obligations across three different franchise leagues,” ICC’s General Manager Alex Marshall said in media release by the apex cricket board.
“This ban is apt and should send a strong message to players and corrupters that attempts to corrupt our sport will be dealt with firmly.”
Here are the number of anti-corruption codes Thomas has breached -
Article 2.1.1 of the SLC Code - contriving or being party to an agreement to fix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka Premier League 2021.
Article 2.4.4 of the SLC Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in the Lanka Premier League 2021.
Article 2.4.6 of the SLC Code - failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the Designated Anti-Corruption Official.
Article 2.4.7 of the SLC Code – obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation into Corrupt Conduct, including (without limitation) concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of Corrupt Conduct.
Article 2.4.4 of the ECB Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct at the Abu Dhabi T10 2021.
Article 2.4.4 of the CPL Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in relation to the CPL 2021.
Article 2.4.2 of the CPL Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or benefit (a) that he knew or should have known was made in order to procure a breach of the CPL Code, or (b) could have brought the player or the game of cricket into disrepute.
Thomas’ international career
The Antigua-born cricketer has played one Test, 21 ODIs and 12 T20Is. He made his debut for West Indies on ODIs in 2009. His most recent appearance was against West Indies where he scored 31 runs from two innings. His last T20I appearance was against New Zealand where he departed for a single-digit score despite getting a promotion up the order.
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