The Tribunal heard evidence of a corrupt approach made by Rajan Nayer to Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer, which gave the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) reasonable grounds to suspect that Ikope may have engaged in corrupt conduct under the code.

Nayer, then treasurer and marketing director of the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association (HMCA), was charged under the code and banned from all cricket for 20 years.

Ikope was bound by the code as a result of his affiliation to the HMCA as its chairman and to Zimbabwe Cricket as its then director.

In its full findings, the ACU detailed how in October 2017 Nayer and Ikope had met three Indian men who had travelled to Zimbabwe to discuss the potential sponsorship of a proposed Zimbabwe T20 Premier League tournament that they wished to organise.

"One of those individuals was Mr Gaurav Rawat, who was known to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit and was suspected of involvement in match-fixing and related activities," the ACU said.

"On October 9, 2017, Mr Nayer engaged in a telephone call with Mr Rawat, during which Mr Nayer, at Mr Rawat's request, agreed to call Mr Cremer, then captain of the Zimbabwe men's senior national representative cricket team, and ask him if he would be interested in fixing matches between Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

"On October 10, 2017, Mr Nayer proceeded to call Mr Cremer and told him that he had been approached by people who wanted to know if Mr Cremer would be interested in fixing those matches in return for $30,000 (£22,000/€26,000).

“Mr Cremer reported that approach to Zimbabwe Cricket's anti-corruption manager, Mr Robson Manjoro, who in turn reported it to the ICC."

An ICC release adds: "Following a full hearing and presentation of written and oral argument, the Tribunal found Mr Ikope guilty of three offences under the code.

"Article 2.4.6 - failure or refusal to cooperate with the ACU's investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely the information and/or documentation requested by the ACU in January 2018.

"This included refusing to hand over his mobile phone and documents demanded by the ACU.

"Article 2.4.7 - obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU in relation to possible corrupt conduct under the anti-corruption code in January 2018.

"This included further failures and delays handing over his mobile phone and documents demanded by the ACU.

"Article 2.4.7 - obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU in relation to possible corrupt conduct under the anti-corruption code in February 2018.

"This arose as a result of his deletion of data from his mobile phone before handing it over to the ACU."

Ikope was banned for five years for each breach, with the first two running concurrently.

Alex Marshall, ICC general manager for the ACU, said: "We welcome this decision and the substantial sanction imposed on Mr Ikope which reflects the gravity of the offences.

"Non-cooperation and obstruction of our investigations by participants to the code is simply not acceptable and I hope this and other recent sanctions sends out a clear message to anyone involved in the sport.

"Once again we must thank an international captain, Greame Cremer, for his absolute professionalism in recognising the initial approach by Mr Nayer, rejecting and then reporting it.

"We are thankful to him and to Zimbabwe Cricket for all the help during the investigations."