A Ugandan player reported an incident of potential corruption, which was promptly addressed by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. According to a PTI report, a former Kenya international attempted to contact a Ugandan team member multiple times using different phone numbers during the league stage matches in Guyana. Following the ICC’s strict anti-corruption protocols, the Ugandan player reported these contacts to ACU officers present on the spot.
According to the PTI report, a source expressed that the targeting of a player from the Ugandan national team is not surprising, as associate nations are often easy targets for corruption. However, in this case, the player contacted immediately informed the ICC.
“It is no surprise that this individual targeted a player from the Ugandan national team. Associate nations are easier targets for corruption than the bigger teams, but in this case the player who was approached did the needful by informing the ICC as soon as possible,” PTI quoted the source as saying.
Following the incident, the authorities issued a warning against the former Kenyan player and informed all associate teams about him.
Notably, failure to report corrupt approaches is an offence under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. Other offences include match-fixing, betting on sports, misuse of insider information and failure to cooperate with investigations.
Effective from June 1, 2024, the ICC Anti-Corruption Code (along with all domestic Anti-Corruption Codes) was replaced by a new global version. This new Code covers all corrupt activity in official cricket at both international and domestic levels.
“The Code covers all cricket (whether international or domestic) played under the auspices of the ICC and its Members and applies to all participants; Players, coaches, trainers, managers, selectors, team owners or officials, doctors, physiotherapists, match referees, pitch curators, player agents, umpires, as well as ICC and NCF officials. The ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Participants states, “Participants are bound by the Code for 2 years after they cease participating in any form of official cricket.”
Uganda, who were placed in Group C of the T20 World Cup 2024, suffered defeats against Afghanistan, New Zealand and West Indies but managed to secure a win against Papua New Guinea.