Their team mate Haseeb Amjad has also been suspended for five years following an investigation by an ICC tribunal.

The ICC said the three players "fixed or contrived to fix matches, failed, for reward, to perform and failed to disclose approaches to fix during a number of international fixtures across a two-year period".

Alex Marshall, general manager of the ICC anti-corruption unit, said Irfan and Nadeem Ahmed were involved in a "premeditated and sophisticated" scheme to fix international matches.

The brothers also sought to "corrupt others", Marshall added.

Irfan Ahmed, who had served a 30-month ban for failing to report a match-fixing approach before a separate investigation was opened earlier this year, was found guilty of nine breaches of the ICC code.

His brother Nadeem, and Amjad, each committed three offences under the code.

The ICC said the charges related to Hong Kong's matches against Scotland, Zimbabwe and Canada between January 2014 and March 2016.

"This has been a long and complex investigation which has uncovered systematic attempts to influence moments in matches by experienced international cricketers over a period of time," said Marshall.

"Their conduct was premeditated and sophisticated and each of the Ahmed brothers sought to corrupt others.

"The main offences relate to the Hong Kong matches against Scotland and Canada where the players fixed specific overs. 

"These matches were won by Hong Kong so it did not materially affect the results of the tournament, however I cannot reiterate strongly enough to any player considering this that we treat any form of fixing – spot or match – with the upmost seriousness."