ICC Suspends Nine Bangladesh Premier League Players for Corruption

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have announced that an investigation by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has led to nine individuals being charged with breaching the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code.

The charges are in relation to an alleged conspiracy within the Dhaka Gladiators to engage in match-fixing and spot-fixing during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League, as well as failures to report illegal approaches.

The relevant individuals have been issued with charge letters today and both the ICC and the BCB have stressed that those charges remain innocent until proven guilty. The identities of those charged will not be revealed until disciplinary proceedings have concluded, in accordance with the BCB’s Anti-Corruption code.

Seven of the nine individuals have been charged for fixing-related offences, and two charged for failing to report corrupt approaches that were made to them/ Those facing match-fixing charges have been provisionally suspended and are banned from all cricket activities until the case has been resolved.

All charged have 14 days to indicate whether they wish to plead guilty or to defend themselves in a full hearing. Those who plead, or are later found, guilty for the fixing offences could receive a suspension lasting five years to a lifetime, or one to five years for failing to report a corrupt approach.

ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson, said: “The evidence uncovered is a grave reminder of the need for the sport to remain vigilant against the continuing threat of corruption, and for players and support personnel to take personal responsibility for protecting the integrity of the game”

BCB President Nazmul Hassan added: “The BCB is committed to a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption in the sport and has demonstrated its resolve to deal robustly with such matters by engaging the services of the ICC and its ACSU.”

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