Suspicion of spot-fixing in 140 incidents of five BPLs

Suspicion of spot-fixing has loomed large over the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), with around 140 incidents in the last five seasons raising alarm. The most recent edition, the 11th BPL, alone saw 36 suspicious events. Over 60 players, both local and foreign, have come under scrutiny, with some facing allegations multiple times. These figures highlight the troubling extent to which spot-fixing has infiltrated the country’s premier T20 tournament.

Despite the fact that betting is illegal in Bangladesh, it remains legal in many other countries. Betting websites regularly list BPL matches, often using the tournament’s official logos in their promotions. Sources suggest that in international, legal betting markets, around USD 5–6 million is wagered on each BPL match, with illegal markets contributing a much larger sum, nearly 9 to 10 times higher. As a result, the total money involved in each match could reach up to USD 50–60 million.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has kept a close eye on BPL over the years, consistently flagging incidents and players for potential involvement in spot-fixing. However, despite frequent warnings, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not taken substantial action in most cases since 2013. This has led to BPL being widely regarded as "the most corrupt franchise league in the world."

However, the current BCB administration, led by Faruque Ahmed, has responded with greater seriousness regarding the spot-fixing allegations from the 11th BPL season, which ran from December to February. A three-member independent investigation committee has been formed, headed by former Appellate Division Justice Mirza Hossain Haider. The committee includes legal expert Dr Khaled H Chowdhury and former cricketer Shakil Kasem. The investigation has already interviewed nearly 50 individuals, including players, coaches, and franchise officials, and the final report is expected soon. Although initially tasked with investigating the current season‍‍`s events, the committee has expanded its focus to include earlier editions, aiming to provide comprehensive recommendations to clean up the league.

Sources within the BCB reveal that over the last five seasons, around 140 incidents of suspected spot-fixing have been flagged. Of these, 66 involved players, and many of those flagged this season had been named in previous investigations as well. The ICC regularly sends detailed reports on such incidents to the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), but the lack of solid evidence or credible witnesses has made it difficult to take direct action against any individual or team.

The investigation has faced challenges, with accusations that the BCB’s ACU has not fully cooperated. Some believe that a more robust response to earlier cases could have prevented the league’s reputation from deteriorating further. One of the issues identified is weak monitoring and enforcement of anti-corruption protocols. Unlike other international franchise leagues, BPL lacks rigorous procedures to detect wrongdoing, such as thorough inspections of team bags and hidden devices.

While Raiyan Azad, the head of the BCB‍‍`s ACU, declined to comment on the investigation, a source suggested that all relevant information from the last two seasons has been shared, although some data remains restricted due to ICC protocols. The final report is expected to identify suspicious players, officials, and incidents, with potential recommendations for further investigations and the involvement of international agencies, such as the ICC’s ACU.

If international bodies are brought in, the investigation could take a long time. For example, it took the ICC’s ACU 18 months to formally charge a Bangladeshi cricketer for spot-fixing in a foreign T10 league. The outcome of the current investigation could be pivotal in shaping the future of the BPL and its fight against corruption.