In a significant development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a five-year ban on former West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Devon Thomas for breaching anti-corruption regulations. This harsh penalty comes after Thomas admitted to violating the codes of conduct laid out by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Thomas, who made his international debut in 2009 and represented the West Indies in 1 Test, 21 ODIs, and 12 T20Is, has been found guilty of failing to uphold his anti-corruption obligations across three different franchise leagues. The ban, with the final 18 months suspended, is backdated to May 23, 2023, when he was provisionally suspended.
The ICC investigation revealed that Thomas violated various codes of conduct, including contriving to fix matches and failing to disclose approaches made to him to engage in corrupt activities. Alex Marshall, the ICC General Manager of the Integrity Unit, emphasized the importance of this ban: “This case serves as a strong message to all players and potential corrupters that the ICC, in partnership with its Members, will not tolerate any corrupt activity within the sport.”
Beyond match-fixing attempts, the violations also included failing to cooperate with investigations and obstructing or delaying inquiries by anti-corruption officials. The investigation further highlighted that Thomas breached the SLC Code, the ECB Code, and the CPL Code with his actions in various leagues.
Specifically, Thomas failed to disclose approaches made to engage in corrupt conduct during the Lanka Premier League 2021 and the Abu Dhabi T10 2021. Additionally, he failed to disclose gifts or benefits that could have compromised the integrity of cricket.
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.
Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit, said: “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.
Source: ICC
In a statement, the ICC said,
“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.”
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