Antiguan cricketer banned for five years by ICC

The world body of cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally made its ruling in the anti-corruption case involving Antiguan cricket Devon ‘Booby’ Thomas.

Thomas who has also played for the West Indies, the last time being in 2022 has been banned for five years from all cricket.

Thomas accepted breaching seven counts of the anti-corruption codes of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Initially, he was suspended last May for corruption after being charged with seven counts including “contriving to fix” matches.

An ICC release stated that “the last 18 months of the period of ineligibility would be suspended.”

“Having played both international and professional domestic/franchise cricket, Devon attended numerous anti-corruption education sessions,” Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit, was quoted as saying in the release.

 “He therefore knew what his obligations were under the Anti-Corruption Codes but failed to meet these obligations across three different franchise leagues. This ban is apt and should send a strong message to players and corrupters that attempts to corrupt our sport will be dealt with firmly.”

The 34-year-old Antiguan represented West Indies in 21 ODIs and 12 T20Is, from 2009 to 2022, apart from his lone Test in Australia in December 2022.

He last played domestic cricket for Leeward Islands in March 2023.