BCB charges players, team officials, franchise owners under ICC's Anti-Corruption code

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday announced that several players, team officials, franchise owners and participants have been charged with breaching various provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Participants (the "Code").

"The charges arise out of investigations conducted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit (BCBIU) in relation to alleged corrupt conduct, betting activities, failures to cooperate with anti-corruption investigations, and obstruction of investigations connected to the Bangladesh Premier League T20 (BPL T20), 12th Edition," the BCB said in a statement.

"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). Those charged include," it added.

Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with an investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible corrupt conduct under the Code, including failure to comply with a Demand Notice issued under Article 4.3 of the Code.

Article 2.4.7 - Obstructing or delaying a DACO investigation into possible corrupt conduct under the Code, including concealment, deletion or destruction of relevant communications and information.

Article 2.4.6 - Failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with an investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible corrupt conduct under the Code, including failure to comply with a Demand Notice issued under Article 4.3 of the Code.

Article 2.4.7 - Obstructing or delaying a DACO investigation into possible corrupt conduct under the Code, including concealment, deletion or destruction of relevant communications and information.

Article 2.2.1 - Placing, accepting, laying or otherwise entering into bets in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of cricket matches.

Article 2.2.1 - Placing, accepting, laying or otherwise entering into bets in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of 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 added that it will not make any further comment on the matter at this stage.

The BCB has also issued an Exclusion Order under the BCB Excluded Person Policy ("Policy") against Saminur Rahman following an investigation into alleged corrupt activities connected to multiple editions of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 (BPL T20), including the ninth, 10th and 11th editions.

"The investigation identified alleged betting-related activities, alleged corrupt approaches to players and agents, communications with individuals associated with domestic and international betting and corruption networks, and alleged involvement in facilitating corrupt conduct in relation to cricket matches," said the BCB.

"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," it added.

Alex Marshall, Independent Chair, BCB Integrity Unit, lauded the turn of events. "Today marks an important milestone in the work to protect cricket in Bangladesh. Four individuals have been charged with various breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code and provisionally suspended from today. The people charged have 14 days to respond. They can accept their charges and seek an agreed sanction or request a Tribunal hearing," he said in a statement.

"One person has been declared an Excluded Person, which means they are barred from all cricketing activities globally. This exclusion was imposed following the discovery of irrefutable evidence of long-term corrupt activities in cricket, including match fixing and extensive contact and money transfers with foreign bookies.

"These are the first cases to reach conclusion, since the BCB IU was formed in November 2025. The unit is currently investigating a number of other cases and further charges are likely in the coming weeks and months. The team continues to investigate matters arising from the Independent Inquiry Commission Report," he added.

"As will be seen from the people charged and declared an Excluded Person today, the BCB IU does not merely focus on players but pursues the people behind the betting related fixing and other corrupt activities. We aim to protect the players by disrupting the corrupters and fixers who target them. Those charged and excluded include a team owner, team managers, a senior coordinator and a player."

Click here to read article