Three get punished over BPL fixing scandal
- A former BCB director
- A councilor, and,
- A security officer
Three individuals including a former BCB director to receive punitive action for BPL match fixing.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended three individuals for violating various articles and sub-articles of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code during the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). They have been given a 14-day deadline to appeal.
The three punished individuals are: Mukhlesur Rahman Shamim, who served as a BCB director and Chairman of the Audit Committee during the 2025-26 period; Zakir Hossain, a former BCB security officer; and Rakibul Islam Sunny, a former BCB councilor from the Bogra District Sports Association and former Member-Secretary of the Audit Committee. The BCB's Anti-Corruption Department found evidence against them on several charges, including match-fixing and destruction of evidence. The offenders have been temporarily suspended, and as part of the legal process, they have been given 14 days from receiving the notice to respond to the allegations brought against them.
Mukhlesur Rahman Shamim was elected as a director from the Rajshahi division in the BCB Board of Directors election that took place during the interim government's tenure. As a board director, he also received the position of Chairman of the Audit Committee. However, Shamim resigned after his conversations regarding match-fixing were leaked in the media. Later, his tenure as a BCB director ended when the National Sports Council dissolved the board led by Aminul Islam Bulbul following allegations of irregularities.
The investigation report by the Anti-Corruption Department also found evidence of fixing charges against former Bogra District Sports Association councilor Rakibul Islam Sunny and former BCB security officer Zakir Hossain. Four charges have been brought against Shamim. He has been accused of violating ICC Anti-Corruption Code articles 2.1.1, 2.1.4, 2.4.4, and 2.4.7, which relate to attempting to fix a match, attempting to involve others in match-fixing, failing to report knowledge of a match-fixing attempt to the ICC's Anti-Corruption Department, and obstructing the investigation. Similar charges have been found against the other two individuals.
According to the BCB's Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct, if the offense of match-fixing or spot-fixing is proven upon conviction, the penalty ranges from a minimum of 1 year to a lifetime ban from cricket, along with substantial financial fines. There is also provision for bans of 1 to 5 years, depending on the severity and magnitude of the offense.
Previously, based on evidence from a 900-page investigation report into corruption, multiple suspicious incidents were identified in various BPL matches and related activities. As a result of these allegations being proven, cricketer Amit Majumder and several other franchise officials have also received punishments.
