MIRPUR — Nine Bangladeshi cricketers previously excluded from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) player draft over match-fixing suspicions remain neither formally charged nor fully exonerated, nearly a year after an internal investigation cast a shadow over their careers.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) Independent Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) confirmed on Saturday that none of the affected players currently face an official playing ban. Addressing the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, ACU Head Alex Marshall clarified that while no formal charges have been brought against the group, the broader inquiry into corruption surrounding the country’s franchise league remains open.
The controversy originated prior to the 12th edition of the BPL, when several high-profile domestic players were abruptly dropped from the final auction draft. The list of omitted players included Anamul Haque, Shafiul Islam, Sunzamul Islam, and Mizanur Rahman of Durdanto Rajshahi; Mosaddek Hossain and Alauddin Babu of Dhaka Capitals; along with Ariful Haque and Nihaduzzaman of Sylhet Strikers.
The sudden exclusion triggered widespread speculation within domestic cricket circles. It later emerged that their names appeared in a comprehensive 900-page fact-finding report compiled by investigative authorities. The document detailed negative findings concerning multiple individuals, encompassing both local and international cricketers. According to Mahin M Rahman, legal counsel for the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), this initial 900-page assessment was an exploratory gathering of intelligence rather than a formal investigation into breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code.
Marshall noted that additional local and overseas players were identified during the initial inquiries, though concrete evidence to pursue formal charges against them is currently lacking. Pressed by journalists on why the nine cricketers were withdrawn from the auction despite the absence of formal charges, Marshall refused to reveal specific investigative details, citing the need to protect the integrity of the process and the rights of the individuals involved.
An ACU investigation yields one of three potential outcomes: formal charges if compelling evidence exists, continued monitoring if evidence remains inconclusive, or total closure of the file if allegations prove unfounded. For now, the affected players remain cleared to play in theory, yet carry the lingering weight of an unresolved investigation.
The update follows recent disciplinary actions taken by the BCB against non-playing officials. The board recently issued provisional suspensions to three individuals for alleged breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code: former BCB Director Muhammad Mokhlesur Rahman, former Security Liaison Officer Zakir Hossain, and former secretary of the BCB audit committee Rakibul Islam Sunny. Marshall declined to elaborate on the details surrounding their suspensions.
