ICC bans Agarwal for just two years

ICC has banned Deepak Agarwal -- described as 'an Indian businessman' by the governing body in an official media release -- for just two years with half a year of that suspended for failing to conduct himself according to ICC's code of conduct as an owner of Sindhi's franchise in 2018 T10 Cricket League.

Bangladesh cricket was rocked to its foundations this past year when the International Cricket Council (ICC) informed that it had banned Shakib Al Hasan from all types of cricket for just two years for not informing the ICC's anti-corruption unit (ACU) of three separate 'approaches or invitations' he received to activate in 'corrupt conduct' by a bookmaker named Deepak Aggarwal seeking match information.

Shakib had primarily been contacted by a bookmaker named Deepak Aggarwal during the Bangladesh Premier League in November 2017, according to a complete reasoned decision on the ICC's website this past year. The first two approaches were made through the ODI tri-series in the home involving Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in January 2018. The 3rd was made during the Indian Premier League later the same year, in relations to the April 26 meet between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab.

The charge brought forward by the ICC and explained in its website are the following:

1. Article 2.4.7 - obstructing or delaying a study, incorporating concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other facts that may be relevant to that investigation and / or that may be proof or may bring about the discovery of proof corrupt conduct beneath the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

Beneath the provisions of the Code, Mr Agarwal chose to admit the charges and agreed the sanction with the ICC instead of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing. At the mercy of him satisfying conditions according of the suspended part of the sanction, he will be absolve to resume his involvement in the overall game on 27 October 2021.

Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager - Integrity said: "There have been a number of types of Mr Agarwal obstructing and delaying our investigations and it had been not simply a one off occurrence. However, he produced a prompt admission of his breach of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and proceeds to provide substantial assist with the ACU in relation to several investigations including other participants. This cooperation is certainly reflected in his sanction."

In its reasoned decision section of the state website, ICC wrote: "Between 22 and 25 December 2018, Mr Agarwal engaged in WhatsApp conversations with Mr X, another Participant under the Code who Mr Agarwal had been in conversation with during the period of the prior year and who had also been called to an ACU interview regarding the a continuing ACU investigation which also involved Mr Agarwal. These WhatsApp conversations between Mr X and Mr Agarwal linked to what Mr Agarwal got told the ACU in his interviews.

In these conversations Mr Agarwal effectively instructed Mr X in regards to what to say to the ACU over certain matters to ensure that they both told the same story (a tale which on occasions had not been true) and consequently misled or obstructed the ACU's investigation. Mr X also sought clarification from Mr Agarwal over the interview process and what Mr Agarwal had told the ACU on certain matters. In place, Mr Agarwal and Mr X contrived mutually to mislead the ACU investigation and not to tell the truth within their answers."