Cocaine in cricket’s new repair: Trapped by Indian bookies, says ex-Zimbabwe star Brendan Taylor

BRENDAN TAYLOR, the previous Zimbabwe captain, is about to change into the second huge title from his nation after former quick bowler Heath Streak to have breached the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code in latest occasions.
In an announcement posted on Taylor’s Twitter deal with on Monday, the just lately retired 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter stated the ICC is about to impose a “multi-year ban” on him after he delayed reporting a corrupt strategy by “an Indian businessman” to the governing physique for 4 months.
The Harare-born Taylor, who had an extended enjoying profession for Zimbabwe from 2004 to 2021, stated that in October 2019, he had been requested by the businessman to return to India to debate sponsorships and the potential launch of a T20 match within the African nation. He stated he was advised he can be paid US$ 15,000 for the journey.
“The timing was such that we hadn’t been paid for 6 months by Zimbabwe cricket (the country’s cricket board) and it was questionable whether Zimbabwe would be able to continue playing in the international arena. So I made the journey,” Taylor acknowledged.
At a celebratory dinner with the businessman and his colleagues, Taylor stated he was provided cocaine, and he “foolishly took the bait”. The subsequent morning, Taylor claimed he was blackmailed by the identical group of males that if he didn’t spot-fix throughout worldwide video games for them, they’d make their video of him taking cocaine public.

“I was cornered. And with 6 of these individuals in my hotel room, I was scared for my own safety. I’d fallen for it. I’d willingly walked into a situation that has changed my life forever,” he stated.
Taylor added that he was given the promised US$ 15,000 however was additionally advised that it was a “deposit” for spot-fixing and that a further US$ 20,000 can be paid as soon as he carried out the repair. “I took the money so I could get on a plane and leave India. I felt I had no choice at the time because saying no was clearly not an option. All I knew was I had to get out of there,” he stated.
Taylor’s case is the most recent illustrative instance of what the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit has been monitoring: gamers from smaller worldwide groups, the place official compensation isn’t often profitable and might be delayed, being more and more focused by bookies, primarily from India.
BCCI’s ACU chief, Shabbir Khandwawala, says the board is conscious of Taylor’s scenario, and that the “usual targets” are “such players from vulnerable countries who are not big enough or don’t have enough money”.
“But the good part is that players have started to report to ACU, and they inform if anyone has approached them. In India, we have sessions where the ACU informs and educates players on how bookies will try to lure them, and make them understand each and every point. As India is cricket’s hub, we are aware of the challenges going ahead. In the past few years, the BCCI has managed to register complaints across India and that has also helped us,” Khandwawala stated.
According to Taylor, in the meantime, the stress triggered by the incident impacted his well being a lot that he was identified with shingles — an an infection that causes rash — and was prescribed amitriptyline, which is used to deal with melancholy. He stated he can be checking right into a rehabilitation centre from Tuesday to cope with his substance abuse.
Taylor stated he tried to clarify to the ICC that he had delayed reporting the strategy as he needed to guard his household however the governing physique refused to entertain his argument. The ICC is but to concern an official touch upon the incident.
Despite belatedly admitting to the strategy, Taylor claimed he had by no means been concerned in match-fixing. “I may be many things but I am not a cheat. My love for the beautiful game of cricket far outweighs and surpasses any threats which could be thrown my way,” he stated.
Taylor performed 34 Tests, 205 ODIs and 45 T20Is for Zimbabwe till his retirement in September 2021. He was additionally a Kolpak participant in English home cricket for a few years in between, having give up enjoying for Zimbabwe after their final 2015 World Cup recreation towards India. He returned from the UK to make his Zimbabwe comeback in late 2017.
In April 2021, one other Zimbabwean star, Heath Streak, was banned for eight years for passing on info and introducing gamers to an Indian businessman, who was a recognized corruptor. Streak had allegedly acquired bitcoins valued at $70,000.
Streak, as per an ICC ACU investigation, had given inside info and didn’t disclose probably corrupt approaches associated to the Zimbabwe crew, the Indian Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Pakistan Super League and the Afghanistan Premier League.
Streak had just lately advised The Cricket Monthly that the Zimbabwe teaching group had agreed to forfeit their pay throughout the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, hoping that if the crew certified for the 2019 World Cup, the ICC prize cash for qualification would allow funds to be made. But Zimbabwe couldn’t qualify.
Invariably, there was an Indian connection normally.
In 2018, the ICC’s then ACU chief Alex Marshall had warned that “it is mostly corrupt Indian bookies” who’ve been approaching gamers. In the identical yr, a Zimbabwe cricket official of Indian origin was banned for allegedly providing then captain Graeme Creamer cash to repair a recreation.

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan is essentially the most high-profile participant to have been banned in latest occasions — in October 2019 — for not reporting a number of approaches from an Indian businessman.
At least six gamers from the UAE have been banned following hearings for being in contact with bookies or accepting cash however not disclosing an strategy to the ICC. Three years in the past, two Hong Kong gamers had been banned for all times and one other acquired a five-year sanction for corruption.
Players have additionally been banned for corruption in T20 leagues, with wicketkeeper-batter Umar Akmal and opener Sharjeel Khan having been sanctioned beforehand by the Pakistan Cricket Board for violations within the PSL.