ICC bans Deepak Aggarwal for two years under Anti-Corruption Code

New Delhi: Deepak Aggarwal, the Haryana bookie based in Dubai whose trails led to Shakib Al Hasan's ban from the cricket for two years was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday (April 29, 2020) from all forms of cricket for two years. He was suspended after he accepted one charge of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

Agarwal was charged as a participant under the Code due to the fact he was one of the team owners of the Sindhi’s franchise in the 2018 T10 Cricket League. 

The charge according to the ICC is under the Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an investigation, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and / or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

Under the provisions of the Code, Agarwal chose to admit the charges and agreed to the sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing. Subject to him satisfying conditions in respect of the suspended part of the sanction, he will be free to resume his involvement in the game on 27 October 2021.

ICC General Manager, Alex Marshall said, “There were a number of examples of Mr Agarwal obstructing and delaying our investigations and it was not just a one-off occurrence."

He added, "However, he made a prompt admission of his breach of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and continues to provide substantial assistance to the ACU in relation to several investigations involving other participants.  This cooperation is reflected in his sanction.”