HARARE: Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), on Saturday, said they were 'extremely disappointed to see the damage caused by the actions of their former captain Brendan Taylor. On Friday, Taylor, after revealing on social media that he delayed reporting a corrupt approach from an Indian businessman, was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for three and a half years after breaching four charges of the Anti-Corruption Code and, one charge of the Anti-Doping Code.
"Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) notes and respects the International Cricket Council (ICC)'s decision to ban former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor from all cricket activities for three-and-a-half years after he accepted charges of breaching the ICC anti-corruption and anti-doping codes. As an organisation, we are extremely disappointed to see the damage caused by the actions of an undoubtedly talented player widely regarded as one of the best cricketers to emerge from our country," read a release from ZC on Saturday.
ZC added that Taylor had let down the people and children who adored him. "Players are role models and as such have a responsibility to behave in an appropriate way. Unfortunately, Taylor, who owned up to receiving bribes to fix matches as well as taking cocaine, has failed the sport, his nation and all the people, including impressionable children, who trusted and idolised him."
Taylor is the second former Zimbabwe cricketer after pacer Heath Streak to be banned by the ICC in recent times for the breach of anti-corruption codes. "We are now left to count the costs of his deceit and greed: the credibility of our game has been seriously undermined, while our image as an organisation and as a country has been tainted. The modus operandi seems to suggest a well-orchestrated agenda to sabotage ZC, our game and what we stand for," stated ZC.IANS
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