Ihsanullah Janat Banned for Five Years Over Corruption Charges

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced that top-order international batter Ihsanullah Janat has been banned for five years after admitting to engaging in corrupt activities in a domestic league.

Three other unidentified players are also under investigation for match-fixing, the ACB revealed. Ihsanullah Janat, 26, is the younger brother of former Afghan skipper and selector Nawroz Mangal. He has played three Tests, 16 one-day internationals, and one Twenty20 international, establishing himself as a talented player in the international cricket scene.

“Janat has been banned from all forms of cricketing activities for five years following breaches of ACB and ICC (International Cricket Council) Anti-Corruption Codes during the second edition of the Kabul Premier League 2024,” the ACB said in a statement. “Janat has admitted to the charges and confessed to his involvement in corrupt activities,” it added. During the Kabul Premier League, Janat scored 72 runs in four innings for the Shamshad Eagles, who finished last in the tournament this year. The ban, which takes effect immediately, marks the end of Janat’s cricketing career, which saw him last play for the national team in 2022.

The ACB’s firm stance on corruption follows a similar case in 2020, when former Afghan national player Shafiqullah Shafaq was banned for six years over corrupt practices. Afghanistan’s cricket team has rapidly progressed on the international stage, achieving significant victories against former champions England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup last year. Their remarkable journey included reaching the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup in June, where they defeated Australia and New Zealand.