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Picture Credit: ICC

United Arab Emirates (UAE) pacer Qadeer Ahmed has received a five-year ban from all cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching six counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. The start of the ban, however, has been backdated to October 2019 which was when he was provisionally suspended due to pending investigations. Qadeer's offences include failing to report corrupt approaches on several occasions including the Zimbabwe series in 2019. He has also been found guilty of revealing inside information in August 2019 and refusing to co-operate with the Anti-Corruption Unit during an investigation.

Should have avoided the people he knew were corrupt: ICC official

"Qadeer Khan is an experienced international cricketer who has received anti-corruption training. He should have avoided the people he knew were corrupt and reported any suspicions immediately," Alex Marshall, the ICC General Manager of the Integrity Unit was quoted as saying in an official release.

"He has accepted he did wrong and requested an agreed sanction in place of a Tribunal. His five-year period of ineligibility is a reflection of the seriousness of his breaches and the number of charges. He has accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed regret for those he has let down," he added.

Has played 11 ODIs, 10 T20Is for Afghanistan

The 35-year-old has featured for Afghanistan in 11 ODIs and 10 T20Is, having bagged 8 and 9 wickets in them respectively. His last international appearance came in August 2019 against the Netherlands. In addition to limited-overs cricket, he has also played three first class matches and has picked 5 wickets in them.