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ICC Anti-Corruption Chief Calls Legends Leagues a Real Grey Area
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News18•07-10-2026, 11:45
ICC Anti-Corruption Chief Calls Legends Leagues a Real Grey Area
- •ICC Anti-Corruption Unit chief Andrew Ephgrave stated that legends leagues featuring retired players represent a real grey area and pose reputational risks.
- •Ephgrave noted that many of these leagues remain unsanctioned by the ICC or domestic boards and lack official NoCs.
- •He highlighted a 2024 legends league in Sri Lanka where team owners faced corruption allegations, proving that risks do exist.
- •Despite the risks, Ephgrave acknowledged the balance between heritage viewing and exhibition cricket, emphasizing the need to separate them from official structures.
- •He also reported that the ACU covered 333 bilateral matches, laid 28 corruption charges, and noted an increase in players reporting corrupt approaches.
Key Questions Answered
ICC ACU head Andrew Ephgrave describes legends leagues as a grey area because they are largely unsanctioned, do not receive ICC no-objection certificates, and feature retired players outside the current cricketing framework, posing a reputational risk to the sport.
Andrew Ephgrave highlighted a legends league held in Sri Lanka in 2024 where team owners faced specific allegations of corruption, noting that such events carry inherent risks that must be carefully separated from official cricket structures.
The anti-corruption unit has shifted its focus from acting merely as an enforcement arm to educating and building trust with players, which has resulted in more players reporting corrupt approaches than ever before.
