Cricket corruption scandal deepens, WI player suspended

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The integrity of Caribbean cricket has been rocked by a fresh wave of corruption charges, with West Indies player Javon Searles and two team officials provisionally suspended for their alleged involvement in match-fixing during the last edition of the Bim10 League.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Wednesday that Searles, along with team owner Chitranjan Rathod and team official Trevon Griffith, has been charged with multiple breaches of anti-corruption codes following an investigation into the 2023-24 tournament held in Barbados.

The charges relate to the Bim10 event, which falls under the jurisdiction of Cricket West Indies (CWI), though Griffith faces an additional charge concerning international matches governed by the ICC’s own code.

Rathod, the owner of the Titans franchise, faces three charges under the CWI Code. Both Searles and Griffith face more serious allegations, each charged with four breaches of the CWI Code. Griffith has also been hit with a separate charge under the ICC Code.

All three individuals have been jointly charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. They are accused of Match-Fixing (Article 2.1.1), which is fixing or attempting to influence the result, progress, or conduct of matches during the Bim10 tournament.

They were also hit with charges of facilitating Corruption (Article 2.1.4), which involves soliciting, instructing, or encouraging players and support personnel to commit offences under the CWI Code.

The other charge entails obstruction (Article 2.4.4), which is failing or refusing to cooperate with a reasonable investigation carried out by the Anti-Corruption officials.

In a further blow to the tournament’s integrity, Searles and Griffith have also been specifically charged with non-reporting (Article 2.4.2).

That includes failure to disclose to Cricket West Indies details of any approaches or invitations to engage in corrupt conduct.

Griffith’s situation is further complicated by an additional charge under the ICC Code (Article 2.4.7) for allegedly obstructing the investigation by concealing or tampering with information that may have been relevant to the probe.

All three have been provisionally suspended from all cricket with immediate effect. They have been given 14 days from March 11, 2026, to respond to the charges.

This development is the latest in a widening investigation into corruption in the sport. It follows the charges brought against USA player Aaron Jones on January 28, who was cited for five breaches of the CWI and ICC Anti-Corruption Codes.

The ICC has stated it will make no further comment on the matter pending the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.