New Delhi: Numerous off-field dramas, especially the persistent cloud of match-fixing accusations, took the sheen out of the just concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which saw a nail-biting final on Friday.
This year’s BPL, the 11th edition of the league since its inception in 2012, saw a series of questionable on-field moments that raised concerns about potential match manipulation.
Wides sailing to the boundary, including those from spinners, massive no-balls, baffling bowling changes, absurd team selections, slow batting in the middle overs and the eerie alignment with online betting site predictions, all hinted at something amiss in the league.
And, there were also reports of foreign players and staff of the Durbar Rajshahi franchise facing problems related to payments as well.
The BPL has a history with controversies, with instances of compensation complications, cases of spot-fixing and match-fixing having surfaced over the years.
Notably, former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful confessed to his involvement in match and spot-fixing in the 2013 BPL, leading to an eight-year ban (with three years suspended) by the BPstaL anti-corruption tribunal in 2014.
This year, the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is investigating eight matches for suspected fixing, acting on anonymous tips and media reports.
A report in The Daily Star suggests that among the 10 players under the BCB’s scrutiny, six have represented the national team, two each are uncapped and foreign players.
The BCB has announced an independent inquiry into alleged corruption, according to a press release. “The BCB strictly adheres to the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Participants and maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption in any form. The BCB anti-corruption unit is continuously monitoring all matters relating to integrity within Bangladesh cricket, addressing them with due confidentiality and discretion,” it said in a statement.
The franchises in question are Durbar Rajshahi, Sylhet Strikers, Dhaka Capitals and Chittagong Kings. The fixtures that are under investigation are Fortune Barishal vs Rajshahi (6 January), Rangpur Riders vs Dhaka (7 January), Dhaka vs Sylhet (10 January), Rajshahi vs Dhaka (12 January), Chittagong vs Sylhet (13 January), Barishal vs Khulna Tigers (22 January ), Chittagong vs Sylhet (22 January) and Rajshahi vs Rangpur (23 January).
The fact that each of the seven franchises covers the expenses, accommodation, and allowances of their respective ACU integrity officers, who are tasked with reporting and preventing corruption, raises concerns about their operational independence and further questions on the BCB’s overall strength to avoid such cases that put the integrity of cricket in Bangladesh at stake.
“It was brought to the attention of both [BCB] CEO [Nizamuddin Chowdhury] and [BCB] president [Faruque Ahmed] that when the ACU officials are with the team, how could they work properly if their expenses are taken care of by those franchises. They will definitely be biased,” a BCB official told The Daily Star.
“When I told them about the matter, the president and CEO agreed on the point. But later nothing changed, I don’t know. But this is obviously an absurd matter.”
The Daily Star also reported the presence of at least two cricketers – one from Rajshahi and one from Chittagong–not part of the official team list but in the players’ dugout.
BCB ACU head Major (Retd) Raiyan Azad told The Daily Star that no PMOA (Players Match Officials Area) access had been issued for any of them, saying he would investigate after being provided with evidence of their repeated presence in the dugout with the team.
PMOA comprises dressing rooms, viewing areas (dugouts), nets, dining areas, medical rooms, and operational rooms used by players, support staff, and match officials.
Any presence in the dugout without a PMOA access not only breaches security protocols but also adds to the suspicions about the franchises’ involvement in questionable activities, including potential spot-fixing and match-fixing.
“This is very common in international and franchise tournaments. When a tournament takes place, we get tips from many corners. The Intelligence hub of the ICC, our ACU network, and the media also have their network. So it’s a regular process,” said Azad, who also lamented not having enough permanent officials at the ACU.
“In the Dubai ILT20, there is an ICC ACU official for every match. Here I have been covering all 46 matches. The integrity officers aren’t working here permanently. They come here, work for a certain time, and then leave.”
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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