August 7, 2024

Afghanistan’s Ihsanullah Banned for Five Years for ‘Involvement in Corrupt Activities’

The ban came following an Afghanistan Cricket Board anti-corruption investigation into the 2024 Kabul Premier League

Ihsanullah Janat, the Afghanistan top-order batter, has been banned from “all forms of cricket activities” for five years for corruption, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said on Wednesday. The ban is effective immediately. The board said that the breaches of the ACB’s and ICC’s anti-corruption code had been committed during the second edition of the Kabul Premier League earlier this year.

“Janat was found guilty of violating Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, which involves improper influence or efforts to fix the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of a match,” the ACB said in a statement. “In light of this violation, he has been handed a five-year ban from all cricket-related activities. Janat has admitted to the charges and confessed to his involvement in corrupt activities.”

The statement added that the ACB’s anti-corruption unit has been investigating “three other players” for possible involvement in corrupt activities. “Decisions regarding their involvement will be made upon confirmation of their guilt,” the ACB said.

Ihsanullah, 26, recently played for Shamshad Eagles in the Kabul Premier League 2024, scoring 72 runs in four innings with an average of 18 and a strike rate of 150. Unfortunately, his team finished last in the six-team league, managing only one win out of five games.

Internationally, Ihsanullah has represented Afghanistan in 20 matches across all three formats. Since making his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in February 2017, he has played 15 more ODIs, accumulating 307 runs at an average of 21.92. Additionally, he has appeared in three Tests, scoring 110 runs at an average of 22.00, and one T20I, where he scored 20 runs off 14 balls. His last international match was the T20I against Zimbabwe in June 2022, also in Harare.

Ihsanullah comes from a cricketing family, with his brother Nawroz Mangal being one of Afghanistan’s early cricketing stalwarts. Nawroz captained the national team when they gained ODI status at the 2009 World Cup qualifiers and led them again when they qualified for the 2010 T20 World Cup.

Tahlia Wilson’s Fifty Helps Australia A Edge India A Out for Opening T20 Victory

Sophie Day’s impressive bowling for Australia A and Priya Punia’s strong batting for India A highlighted a closely contested first T20 of India A’s multiformat tour. Australia A clinched a narrow five-run win, thanks to a rapid half-century by Tahlia Wilson and a late surge from their middle order.

Wilson’s 33-ball fifty, in partnership with Katie Mack, set the tone early as Australia A reached 74 without loss. However, a collapse saw them lose 5 for 42, but Nicole Faltum and Maddy Darke’s late push, scoring 31 runs in the last two overs, gave them a competitive total.

In the chase, India A struggled to keep up with the required run rate, though Priya Punia and Tanuja Kanwar put on a 64-run partnership for the third wicket. Punia played brilliantly, hitting seven fours and three sixes, but three crucial run-outs, including Punia’s, halted India A’s momentum. Left-arm spinner Sophie Day was key, conceding only 19 runs in her four overs, including just three in a crucial 17th over.

India A needed 16 runs in the final over, but Australia A’s captain, Tahlia McGrath, managed to defend the target despite conceding a boundary to Sayali Satghare. Earlier, Wilson had powered Australia A to 49 without loss in the powerplay, but India A fought back with Saika Ishaque’s brilliant spell, which included a double strike that derailed Australia A’s innings. However, Faltum and Darke’s late push ensured a competitive total.

The teams will meet again at Allan Border Field for the second T20 on Friday and the final match on Sunday, followed by three one-dayers in Mackay and a concluding four-day game on the Gold Coast.