With Bizarre Run-Outs & Farcical Stumpings, These Cricketers Have Given The Gentleman's Game A Bad Name

Ever since the advent of cricket, the gentleman's game has evolved over the years to break new barriers and scale new heights. The cricketing gears have improved, the format of the game has changed and the rules have also been altered for the betterment of the sport. But, as the game of cricket evolved, so did the irregularities which continue to bring disrepute to the sport. Over the years, the demons of match-fixing have emerged as a serious challenge for the International Cricket Council (ICC) - the global governing body of cricket. Given past incidents, the ICC has implemented numerous regulations to curb such negative elements but somehow the miscreants have also found a way to affect the game. A similar incident came to the fore in the United Arab Emirates' Ajman All Stars League where suspicious video clips of a particular game have now gone viral. The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating a match from the Ajman All Stars League recently played in the UAE Here's some match footage ð³pic.twitter.com/azU1Cr86e0 — The Cricket Paper (@TheCricketPaper) January 30, 2018 The league was shut down after just two days as UAE officials blocked any further cricket action at the Ajman Oval - a popular cricket ground in the country. A T20 clash between Dubai Stars and Sharjah Warriors witnessed shocking scenes, including bizarre run-outs and farcical stumpings. ðððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððð FFS! ð https://t.co/qVl2L7wIt8 — Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) January 31, 2018 Chasing 136 runs, the Warriors were bowled out for just 46 runs after most of their batsmen were seen deliberately throwing away their wickets through easy stumpings and pre-meditated run-outs. Efforts to return to the crease after charging the bowler were virtually non-existent, while suicidal attempts at runs and a lack of urgency and intensity raised eyebrows. This is unbelievable........ https://t.co/pojcPZaiak — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 30, 2018 A video showcasing the farcical scenes also found its way to social media and has attracted a lot of criticism from fans, cricket pundits and former cricketers. Since the tournament was not sanctioned, it does not come under the purview as such of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) or the ICC. Oh dear! https://t.co/4uYsaqNn9N — Brendan Taylor (@BrendanTaylor86) January 30, 2018 However, thanks to the viral video, the ICC has now launched a thorough investigation with its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) handling the proceedings. "There is currently an ICC Anti-Corruption Unit investigation underway in relation to the Ajman All Stars League held recently in Ajman, UAE," Alex Marshall, the ICC general manager, Anti-Corruption, said in a statement. ð³ððð¿ðð¿ https://t.co/Gy7XFu31HH — Alex Tudor (@alextudorcoach) January 30, 2018 "The ICC 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," he added. Sickening to watch this.... https://t.co/984CazkhMV — Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) January 30, 2018 My favourite is the run out at 0:35 - the batsman did his very best to get run out but the fielder just refused to cooperate. — Nick Cummins (@CricketTasCEO) January 30, 2018 They need coach from Pakistan to make it real. Saman Butt can coach these players very well about fixing — Saurabh Srivastava (@saurabhashu44) January 31, 2018 looks like my park cricket side when we've decided it's beer o'clock... — Matthew Pope (@RealMattPope) January 31, 2018 I'll have £5 on the Greens please. — Fred Boycott (@FredBoycott) January 31, 2018