The International Cricket Council (ICC), which is recognized as the global governing body of cricket, has issued its verdict in the anti-corruption case involving Antiguan cricketer Devon ‘Booby’ Thomas.
The 34-year-old player, who has represented West Indies in 21 ODIs, 12 T20Is, and a lone Test match, has been banned from all forms of cricket for a period of five years.
Thomas had previously been suspended in May 2022 after being charged with seven counts of breaching the anti-corruption codes of three different cricket boards – Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He later accepted the charges.
In its statement, the ICC mentioned that Thomas had attended several anti-corruption education sessions, making him fully aware of his obligations under the Anti-Corruption Codes.
However, he failed to comply with these obligations, which led to a breach of the codes across three different franchise leagues.
The ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit, Alex Marshall, stated that the ban is appropriate and should serve as a warning to players and corrupters that any attempts to corrupt the sport will be dealt with severely.
The period of ineligibility for Thomas includes the suspension of the last 18 months. The player last played domestic cricket for Leeward Islands in March 2023.
