BCB charges three over alleged BPL anti-corruption breaches

Dhaka,  1 Sept-The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has charged three individuals with alleged breaches of the anti-corruption code in connection with the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the board said in a statement today.

The three accused are former BCB director and former chairman of the board's audit committee Muhammad Mukhlesur Rahman Shamim, former BCB security liaison officer (SLO) Zakir Hossain, and former BCB councillor for Bogra district and former audit committee member secretary Rakibul Islam Sunny.

The charges followed an investigation by the BCB's Integrity Unit into alleged violations of various provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Participants 2024.

The allegations include attempting to influence the result, progress or other aspects of a BPL match, encouraging or assisting a participant to engage in corrupt conduct, failing to report corrupt approaches or communications in a timely manner, failing to cooperate with an investigation and obstructing or delaying an investigation.

Shamim has been charged under Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.4, 2.4.4 and 2.4.7. The allegations include attempting to influence the outcome or progress of a match, encouraging or assisting another participant in corrupt activity, failing to report a corrupt offer to the Anti-Corruption Officer and obstructing an investigation by concealing, deleting or destroying relevant communications or information.

Zakir has been charged under Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.4 and 2.4.6. He is accused of attempting to influence the outcome or other aspects of a match through irregular means, encouraging or assisting a participant in corrupt activity and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

Sunny faces charges under Articles 2.4.4 and 2.4.6. He is accused of failing to report information relating to a proposal to engage in corrupt conduct in a timely manner and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The BCB said all three individuals have been provisionally suspended. They  will have 14 days from receiving the notices of charge to respond to the  allegations, after which disciplinary proceedings will be conducted in  accordance with the anti-corruption code. The board said it would not make any further comment on the matter at this stage.

The charges are allegations and do not represent a final finding of wrongdoing. Any disciplinary outcome will follow the prescribed proceedings under the code.BSS