DUBAI: West Indian cricketer Devon Thomas has been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after being hit with seven charges under its anti-corruption code, including allegations of match-fixing. Thomas, who was set to participate in the upcoming three-ODI series against the UAE in Dubai, has been given fourteen days to respond to the charges.
The charges against the 33-year-old batter pertain to his actions during three franchise-based tournaments: the Lanka Premier League (LPL), the Abu Dhabi T10, and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The ICC’s anti-corruption unit has been authorized by the respective cricket boards of Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and the West Indies to conduct the investigation on their behalf.
According to the ICC’s statement, Thomas breached the anti-corruption codes in all three tournaments. Cricket West Indies (CWI) expressed its full support for the investigation, emphasizing its commitment to combating corruption in the sport.
The most severe charge against Thomas relates to his alleged attempt to fix a match during the 2021 edition of the LPL while playing for the Kandy Warriors. In that particular tournament, Thomas appeared in only one game. Overall, he faces four charges under the Sri Lanka Cricket anti-corruption code, including contriving or being party to an agreement to fix matches and failing to cooperate with the investigation.
Additional Charges Against Devon Thomas
In addition, Thomas faces a charge under the Emirates Cricket Board code for failing to disclose details of an approach to engaging in corrupt conduct during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament when he represented the Pune Devils.
The remaining two charges stem from Thomas’ participation in the last two editions of the CPL, representing the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and the Barbados Royals. These charges involve failure to disclose an approach and failure to report the receipt of gifts or benefits that could have compromised the integrity of the CPL or brought the game into disrepute.
Thomas last played for the West Indies in December 2022, featuring in the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide. Since his international debut in 2009, he has represented West Indies in 21 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 12 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
The outcome of the probe will determine the future course of action for Devon Thomas, whose suspension highlights the ICC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport and combating corruption at all levels.
