BPL Fixing: Three Individuals from Asif Mahmud’s Circle, Including a Former Director and an NCP Leader, Banned

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has temporarily banned three people, including former board director Muhammad Mukhlesur Rahman (Shamim) and NCP leader and BCB councilor Rakibul Islam Sunny, for alleged match-fixing and corruption in the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). They have been formally charged for breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code (2024).

Among the accused, the name of former BCB councilor and central co-organizing secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Rakibul Islam Sunny has caught special attention. He got the BCB councilorship from Bogra district on the recommendation of the then Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan. Muhammad Mukhlesur Rahman Shamim, who was also banned, was also a former BCB director and former chairman of the audit committee, against whom there were already various rumors of fixing. The third person banned is Zakir Hossain, a former BCB Security Liaison Officer (SLO).

Following a lengthy investigation by the BCB Anti-Corruption Unit (BCBIU), the BCB officially confirmed the disciplinary action in a press release. All three accused in the charge have been provisionally suspended and given 14 days from the date of receipt of the notice to defend themselves.

Specific allegations against the accused:

• Muhammad Mukhlesur Rahman (Shamim): Charges have been brought against him for attempting to directly fix matches or exert undue influence in the BPL (section 2.1.1), inciting others to corruption (section 2.1.4), failing to inform the Anti-Corruption Officer (DACO) after receiving a fixing offer (section 2.4.4), and obstructing the investigation by deleting information or messages (section 2.4.7).

• Zakir Hossain (former SLO): He is charged with attempted match-fixing (section 2.1.1), inciting match-fixing (section 2.1.4), and failure to cooperate with the investigation and failure to respond to legal notices (section 2.4.6).

• Rakibul Islam Sunny (former BCB councilor): He has been charged with failing to inform the DACO in a timely manner after receiving a corruption proposal (Section 2.4.4) and failing to cooperate with the investigation (Section 2.4.6).

The BCB has confirmed that it will not comment further on the matter as the entire matter is currently under the BCB tribunal and disciplinary process. It remains to be seen what final decision the board, led by the current BCB president, will take to make the BPL corruption-free.