The ICC has announced a strict investigation for a private Twenty20 league held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after footage of some bizarre dismissals went viral. The Ajman T20 All-Stars league is a five-match series, which has been played for three in late January and was not approved by either the local Ajman Cricket Council, Emirates Cricket Board or the ICC.

However, after footage was broadcast featuring batsman running past deliveries to be easily stumped and running between wickets that resulted in several run outs, the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) was triggered. 

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The ICC’s ACU general manager Alex Marshall confirmed that the anti-corruption unit had opened an investigation. In the statement released, Marshall said, “There is currently an ICC Anti-Corruption Unit investigation underway in relation to the Ajman All-Stars League held recently in Ajman, UAE. The ACU works to uphold integrity in cricket and in keeping with that role we are talking to players and officials and will not make any further comment at this time.”

The ICC also requested that if anyone has any information regarding the same to contact them. The tournament was abandoned after the first day, and the secretary general of the Ajman Cricket Council told ESPN he had not been aware of its reality until it had started.

In the latest interview, Shaji Ul Mulk said, “The tournament wasn’t approved and we only came to know about the activity on day two. There are procedures and when my staff asked them to go by the rulebook, they dispersed and never came back again. Meanwhile, we found the Ajman Oval breaching the code more than once and hence we have suspended their affiliation. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and are cooperating with the ICC in their ongoing investigation.”

The tournament reportedly involved emigrants from a number of South Asian countries, including some unnamed former international cricketers as well. Here is the video of the bizarre incident:

https://twitter.com/TheCricketPaper/status/958409362804019200