Afghanistan batter, Ihsanullah Janat, was banned from all forms of cricketing activities for five years by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) with immediate effect. The 26-year-old top-order batter was found guilty of match-fixing during the second edition of the Kabul Premier League (KPL). He has confessed to charges of breaches of ACB and ICC Anti-Corruption codes.
Janat, who made his international debut in 2017 has so far featured in three Tests, 16 ODIs, and one game in the T20I format. According to the ACB, the cricketer was charged for violating Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. His ban marks a significant setback for Janat as well as Afghan cricket since ACB will also face challenges regarding the reputation of the KPL.
“Janat was found guilty of violating Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, which involves improper influence or efforts to fix the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of a match,” the ACB said in a statement.
“In light of this violation, he has been handed a five-year ban from all cricket-related activities. Janat has admitted to the charges and confessed to his involvement in corrupt activities,” the statement added.
In addition, the ACB is also probing three more players for potential corruption after Janat was found guilty. The Afghanistan cricket team has been performing well on the field, including in major ICC events. Despite this, they are grappling with off-field challenges.
“The ACB Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has revealed that three other players are also under suspicion for involvement in match-fixing, and investigations are underway. Decisions regarding their involvement will be made upon confirmation of their guilt,” the statement further read.
