BCB charges three over BPL breaches

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has charged three former officials with multiple breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code over alleged corrupt conduct during the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

In a media release issued on Tuesday, the board confirmed that all three have been provisionally suspended and given 14 days from receipt of their Notices of Charge to submit their responses as part of the ongoing disciplinary process.

Muhammad Mukhlesur Rahman (Shamim), a former BCB board director and Audit Committee chairman, faces the heaviest charges of the three. He has been accused of attempting to fix or improperly influence a BPL match, encouraging or facilitating corrupt conduct, failing to disclose an approach or invitation related to corrupt conduct, and obstructing an investigation by concealing, deleting or destroying relevant communications or information.

Zakir Hossain, a former BCB Security Liaison Officer, has been charged with attempting to improperly influence a BPL match and encouraging or facilitating corrupt conduct. He also faces a separate charge of failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to co-operate with an anti-corruption investigation and comply with a Demand Notice.

Rakibul Islam Sunny, former BCB councillor for Bogura district and former member secretary of the Audit Committee, faces two charges. These relate to failing to disclose an approach or invitation concerning corrupt conduct, as well as failing or refusing to co-operate with the investigation conducted by the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO).

The charges follow a detailed investigation carried out by the Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit (BCBIU) into alleged corruption, failures to disclose information, non-co-operation, and attempts to obstruct or delay the probe into BPL 12.