Three UAE players, including former skipper Mohammad Naveed, have been provisionally suspended from cricket with immediate effect after they were charged with the breach of several ICC anti-corruption rules.

Skipper Naveed, Qadeer Ahmed Khan and Shaiman Anwar Butt had recently withdrawn from the initial squad for the 2020 T20 World Cup qualifiers starting in the UAE on Friday. No explanation was given at the time for their absence.

According to Wednesday’s ICC press release, skipper Naveed has been charged with the breach of four anti-corruption codes while Qadeer has been found in breach of  six. Shaiman, meanwhile, has been charged with the breach of two codes.

One of the codes Naveed has been charged for is Article 2.1.1 which relates to contriving, or being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of matches in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Naveed has also been charged with a further two breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Code for the T10 League.  The ICC had earlier been appointed by the ECB as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official for the purposes of the ECB’s Code at the T10 League.

A fourth player, Mehardeep Chhayakar, has also been charged by the ICC along with the UAE national team trio. Chhayakar has participated in cricket tournaments in Ajman.

The four players have two weeks to respond to the charges laid out against them.

“Emirates Cricket Board acknowledge the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit investigation involving three of its players,” an ECB statement read.

“The board fully supports the ICC and the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit in their efforts, and denounces any activities of corruption.”