BCB charges player, officials in anti-corruption probe into Bangladesh Premier League

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has charged several players, team officials and franchise representatives over alleged betting activities and obstruction of investigations linked to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), in what marks the first major anti-corruption action since the formation of its Integrity Unit in November 2025.

In a statement on Thursday, the BCB said the charges followed investigations conducted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit (BCBIU) into alleged corrupt conduct during the 12th edition of the BPL.

“The investigations related to alleged betting-related activities, corrupt approaches, failures to comply with Demand Notices issued under Article 4.3 of the Code, concealment and deletion of relevant communications, and failures to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO),” the board said.

Among those charged are team manager Md. Lablur Rahman and franchise co-owner Md. Towhidul Haque Towhid. Both have been accused of failing to cooperate with the investigation and allegedly obstructing the inquiry by concealing or deleting relevant information and communications.

Domestic cricketer Amit Mojumder and team manager Rezwan Kabir Siddique have been charged under Article 2.2.1 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for allegedly placing bets related to cricket matches.

“The charged Participants have been provisionally suspended and have 14 days from receipt of the notices of charge to respond to the allegations,” the BCB said.

The board has also issued an Exclusion Order against Saminur Rahman following an investigation into alleged corrupt activities spanning multiple editions of the BPL, including the ninth, 10th and 11th seasons.

According to the BCB, the investigation uncovered alleged betting-related activities, corrupt approaches to players and agents, and links with individuals associated with domestic and international betting networks.

“Following service of a Notice of Intended Exclusion Order, Mr. Rahman waived his right to submit a response under the Excluded Person Policy and accepted the imposition of the Exclusion Order,” the statement added.

Alex Marshall, the independent chair of the BCB Integrity Unit, said the developments reflected the board’s intent to crack down on corruption beyond just players.

“Today marks an important milestone in the work to protect cricket in Bangladesh,” Marshall said. “These are the first cases to reach conclusion since the BCB IU was formed in November 2025.”

Marshall added that one individual had been barred from all cricket-related activities globally after investigators found what he described as “irrefutable evidence” of long-term corrupt activities, including match-fixing and money transfers involving foreign bookmakers.

He also said the Integrity Unit was continuing to investigate several other cases arising from the Independent Inquiry Commission Report, with more charges likely in the coming weeks and months.

The BCB Integrity Unit had earlier flagged “credible suspicion” during the 2025-26 BPL season and questioned players and officials from multiple franchises during the tournament, which concluded in January.

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