Former UAE skipper Mohammed Naveed has spoken up for the first time after being provisionally suspended from cricket for multiple breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
The recently deposed captain was among three UAE national team players to be suspended by the ICC on Wednesday with the trio charged with 10 Anti-Corruption Code violations between them.
Naveed was charged with two ICC code and as many Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) anti-corruption code violations with the former pertaining to the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
His first ICC breach came with regards to Article 2.1.1 of the Anti-Corruption Code which pertains to “contriving, or being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of matches in the upcoming ICC World T20 Qualifier.”
The second relates to Article 2.4.4 which relates to “failure to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in conduct in relation to the ICC World T20 Qualifiers 2019 that would amount to corrupt conduct under the Code.”
Speaking to The National after being provisionally suspended from cricket with immediate effect, Naveed accepted to making a big mistake in not disclosing a suspicious approach from someone whom he believed to be an official of the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
A trio of UAE players have been provisionally suspended from cricket.https://t.co/yX7nB3MccI
— ICC (@ICC) October 16, 2019
“I am very sincere about my game, I am very sincere about my career,” Naveed explained.
“I have been successful for the UAE around the world, in leagues, for franchises. That is because I am very sincere about my game. Now this has happened, I feel guilty. Why did I not talk to the board, why did I not talk to the ICC? It is my mistake, and I feel guilty.
“My family is let down, my friends are let down. Everybody is let down. This was my mistake.”
Qadeer Ahmed Khan and Shaiman Anwar Butt are the two other UAE players charged with anti-corruption violations and the suspended trio has two weeks to respond to the charges laid down by the ICC.
Naveed was due to lead UAE in the World Cup Qualifier but he, along with Ahmed and Anwar, had recently stood down from the initial squad for the tournament. No explanation was provided at the time for their withdrawals with Ahmed Reza appointed as skipper in Naveed’s stead.
UAE open their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday when they take on neighbours Oman in the Group B opener in Abu Dhabi.
