Abu Dhabi T10 league under ‘corruption’ radar following unusual front-foot no-balls
The ongoing Abu Dhabi T10 League is facing significant scrutiny amid concerns about potential spot-fixing, particularly involving unusual front-foot no-balls.
Sources report that the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has launched an investigation to determine if any foul play has occurred in the 10-team tournament, sparked by a series of suspicious front-foot no-balls.
On the night of November 22, UAE seamer Hazrat Bilal, playing for the Morrisville Samp Army, overstepped the popping crease by an unusual margin, so much so that the camera frame had to be adjusted to show replays. His teammates, including Faf du Plessis, were seen laughing at the replay, while Reece Topley was observed chuckling from the sidelines.
Just four days later, former Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka made headlines when he conceded 30 runs off his first three deliveries, including four no-balls, during a match between the Delhi Bulls and Bangla Tigers. Shanaka’s performance raised eyebrows across the cricketing community.
“Former Sri Lanka captain and all-rounder Dasun Shanaka is facing match-fixing allegations following his performance in the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10 League,” reported cricketaddictor, a website dedicated to cricket news. Social media is buzzing with the allegation of match-fixing charges following these incidents.
In the 10-over-a-side match, Shanaka bowled the penultimate over of the Delhi Bulls’ innings, when they were at 72/6, with Shadab Khan batting at nine runs off nine balls. Shanaka’s first delivery went for a high full toss, which Nikhil Chaudhary then pulled to the deep square leg boundary for a four. Shanaka then bowled two consecutive no-balls, both of which were hit for fours. The free hit from the second no-ball saw Chaudhary power a four down the ground.
Shanaka’s erratic bowling continued as he delivered another full ball to Chaudhary, who flicked it for a six over the long-leg fielder. Shanaka then bowled two more no-balls, with Chaudhary hitting a single off the first and a four off the second. The over eventually saw Shanaka concede 30 runs from the first three legitimate deliveries. Despite pulling things back with three singles from the last three balls, the damage had already been done. Attempts by the Sunday Times to independently verify these claims were unsuccessful.
The Abu Dhabi T10 League has a history of controversy, having been marred by a corruption scandal three years ago. In the 2021 season, Pune Devils’ batting coach Ashar Zaidi, along with team owners Parag Sanghavi and Krishan Kumar Choudhary, were banned by the ICC after being found guilty of corruption. Sri Lanka Cricket will be conducting its own T10 League later this month.