Zimbabwe great Brendan Taylor has been banned from playing cricket until July 2025 in the wake of his startling revelation into match-fixing and blackmail from three years ago.
Earlier this week Taylor revealed via Twitter that he had been invited to India in 2019 by businessmen to discuss a potential sponsorship deal for T20 cricket in Zimbabwe, only for former ODI star to be filmed taking cocaine, with the footage then used against him in order to spot fix matches.
The Harare native admitted he did accept over $21,000 from the businessmen, however did not spot fix any matches.
Taylor stated in the social media post that the ICC had planned their report to shortly follow, with the 35-year-old set to be banned from all forms of cricket.
The ICC have since handed down their punishment for Taylor, with the former Zimbabwe captain banned for three-and-a-half years.
A recent positive test reading for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, following an ODI match against Ireland last year also came against the ICC's anti-doping code, adding to Taylor's suspension.
Collectively, Taylor admitted to four breaches of the ICC's anti-corruption code and a separate charge of violating the global governing body’s anti-doping code.
“Brendan is a former international captain who represented Zimbabwe for 17 years,” The ICC’s Integrity Unit GM Alex Marshall said.
“Over such a long career, he participated in numerous anti-corruption and anti-doping education sessions and knew exactly what his obligations were under the ICC anti-corruption and anti-doping codes.
“It is disappointing that a player of his experience chose not to fulfil those obligations. However, he has accepted all charges, which has been reflected in the sanction.”
Taylor will be permitted to return to playing cricket on July 28, 2025.
