Several Sri Lankan U19 cricketers were banned for match-fixing offences, sending shockwaves through youth cricket and raising alarm about the targeting of vulnerable young players by fixers.
In 2019, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit confirmed that several Sri Lankan U19 cricketers had been found guilty of match-fixing related offences and were handed bans from all cricket. The investigation revealed that the young players had been approached by corrupt individuals and had agreed to manipulate aspects of matches in exchange for relatively small sums of money.
The case was particularly disturbing because of the age of those involved. These were teenagers, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, who were targeted precisely because of their vulnerability. The fixers exploited the players' financial circumstances and their lack of awareness about anti-corruption protocols. The relatively small amounts of money involved — often just a few hundred dollars — underscored how easily young players could be lured into corruption.
Sri Lanka Cricket came under intense scrutiny for its failure to protect young players from corruptors. Questions were asked about the adequacy of anti-corruption education in the U19 setup and whether the board had done enough to create an environment where players felt comfortable reporting approaches. The SLC acknowledged shortcomings and pledged to enhance its anti-corruption programs.
The bans effectively ended the cricket careers of the young players involved before they had truly begun. The case became a cautionary tale used in anti-corruption education programs worldwide and strengthened the case for comprehensive protection measures for youth cricketers. The ICC subsequently made anti-corruption education mandatory for all participants in ICC youth events.
Multiple Sri Lankan U19 players received bans ranging from several years to life. Sri Lanka Cricket enhanced its anti-corruption education programs. The ICC made anti-corruption briefings mandatory at all youth events.
Cricket Canada
12 May 2026
ICC suspended six months of funding to Cricket Canada over governance failures and financial misreporting — 63% of their total revenue.
Multiple franchises
8 May 2026
The IPL's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) submitted a formal report to the BCCI in May 2026 flagging "certain anomalies" observed across the league stage: unauthorised persons had been seen in the team dugout, on the team bus, and at team hotels during IPL matches in apparent breach of anti-corruption Standard Operating Procedures. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed the report publicly and warned that "very stringent action" would be taken if violations continued. Separately, the BCCI tightened protocols after reports that certain franchise owners had been seen mingling with players in restricted areas — a specific interaction prohibited under the anti-corruption framework.
Various county sides
1865-08-01
Despite MCC's attempts to reduce gambling on cricket through the 1840s and 1850s, county cricket in the 1860s still operated in a culture where betting was widespread and where allegations of arranged results circulated freely among those closest to the game. Several county fixtures of the decade generated suspicion among contemporaries that the outcome had been agreed in advance, though the absence of formal investigation meant that no players were ever charged.