Play store
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally charged three former officials with alleged breaches of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code in connection with an investigation into corruption allegations surrounding the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The accused are former BCB director and former Audit Committee chairman Muklesur Rahman Shamim, former Security Liaison Officer (SLO) Zakir Hossain, and former BCB councillor for Bogura district and former Audit Committee member-secretary Rakibul Islam Sani.
The BCB has provisionally suspended all three following the charges. They have been given 14 days to respond to the notices, after which disciplinary proceedings will continue in accordance with the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
The BCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigated alleged corrupt activities surrounding the 12th BPL. Based on the investigation, formal charges were brought under various provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Participants, 2024.
According to the BCB, the investigation uncovered allegations including attempts to improperly influence the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of a match; attempts to induce another participant to engage in corrupt conduct; failure to report approaches or invitations to engage in corruption; and non-cooperation with an anti-corruption investigation.
Shamim faces the most charges, under Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.4, 2.4.4 and 2.4.7 of the ICC code.
Article 2.1.1 covers attempts to improperly influence the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of a match. Article 2.1.4 relates to directly or indirectly inducing, encouraging or intentionally assisting another participant to engage in corrupt conduct.
Shamim is also accused of failing to promptly report a corrupt approach or invitation, in violation of Article 2.4.4, and of concealing, deleting or destroying information that could have been relevant to an anti-corruption investigation, under Article 2.4.7.
Zakir has been charged under Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.4 and 2.4.6. In addition to alleged attempts to improperly influence a BPL match, he is accused of inducing or assisting another participant to engage in corrupt conduct and failing to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation without a valid reason.
Sani faces charges under Articles 2.4.4 and 2.4.6 for allegedly failing to report a corrupt approach or invitation and not cooperating with the investigation without a valid reason.
However, the BCB has not concluded that any of the three has been found guilty of the allegations. They have been given an opportunity to respond within the stipulated period, and their statements and other relevant aspects of the investigation will be considered during the subsequent disciplinary process.
