Cricket West Indies have been forced to rejig its squad for the three One-day against the United Arab Emirates.

The West Indies wicket-keeper/batsman Devon Thomas has been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) with seven counts under the anti-corruption code and was suspended with immediate effect.

The ICC said the charges involve “contriving or being party to an agreement to fix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka Premier League 2021.”

” He has also been charged under several codes, including failing to disclose full details of an approach to conduct corrupt activities in the Lanka Premier League 2021, Abu Dhabi T10 2021 and CPL 2021.” The 33-year-old Antiguan has 14 days from May 23 to respond to the charges against him.

In a statement, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said it is not directly involved in the process but remains firm in denouncing corruption in cricket, and fully supports the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in its efforts to uphold the integrity of the sport.

The regional governing body said it will continue collaborating with the ICC and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) to sensitize and educate players and officials on anti-corruption in sports.

Thomas in last represented the West Indies in December 2022, when he made his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide, Australia. He played a T20 International against New Zealand in Kingston, Jamaica in August last year.

He was part of the winning St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots team in the 2021 CPL, but joined the Barbados Royals squad for the 2022 CPL season.

In a recent statement, a CPL spokesman said: ” The CPL does not comment on ongoing investigations, but we take any allegations of corrupt activities extremely seriously and will always co-operate fully with any investigation into whether our Anti-Corruption code has been breached. The CPL condemns any corrupt activities in the strongest terms and we will continue to work closely with the CWI and the ICC to maintain the integrity of the game at all levels.”

According to the ICC, the maximum possible sanction for the most serious breaches of the anti-corruption code is a life ban from all involvement in the game. Criminal proceedings are also a possibility in some countries.

However, Thomas is not the first West Indian to be charged by the ICC for breaches on its anti-corruption code.