BASSETERRE. St. Kitts - CRICKET WEST INDIES (CWI) confirmed that it was made aware of corruption charges laid against batsman Devon Thomas, which are connected to the Abu Dhabi 10 and the Caribbean Premier League.
CWI acknowledged that the charges were laid by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), noting that it is not “directly involved in the process” but “denounced corruption in cricket”.
In its media statement, CWI said it “fully supports the ICC ACU in its efforts to uphold the integrity of the sport”.
The ICC in a media statement disclosed that Thomas is charged with seven counts under the Anti-Corruption codes.
“The ICC has provisionally suspended Thomas with immediate effect after charging him under their Anti-Corruption codes on behalf of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL),” ICC said.
The international governing body has, in recent years, stepped up its efforts to stamp out corruption within the sport.
The ICC said that the charges laid against Thomas involve "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".
He was further charged “under several other codes, including failing to disclose full details of an approach in the Lanka Premier League 2021, Abu Dhabi T10 2021 and CPL 2021.
CWI noted that it would not comment further on the charges as the matter continues.
Thomas has four charges based on the Sri Lanka anti-corruption code:
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.
He is also facing a charge under the Emirates Cricket Board of failure to provide or disclose details of being approached to indulge in 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.
With regards to the Caribbean Premier League, it is reported that Thomas failed to disclose that he was approached, and also failing to disclose gifts, payment or hospitality among other things that could be procured for a breach of the tournament’s code or bring the game into disrepute.
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 has 14 days from May 23, 2023 to respond to the charges made against him.
Meanwhile, CWI noted that it “remains committed to sensitizing and educating our players and officials on anti-corruption in sports”.
