BCB Integrity Unit vows to stamp out corruption from Bangladesh cricket

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Integrity Unit independent chair Alex Marshall today iterated his stance on stamping out the corruption from the country's cricket.

He said the unit is working independently to investigate alleged breaches of the anti-corruption code and hinted at more corruption cases coming to a conclusion in the coming weeks. "There are more cases under investigation. You can expect to see some more announcements in the coming weeks," Marshall said at a press conference organised by the BCB Integrity Unit here today (12 September).

He, however, declined to disclose details of the ongoing investigations, saying it would be unfair to individuals under investigation and could affect their right to a fair hearing. Marshall said the Integrity Unit has announced eight cases in recent weeks, with seven people charged under the anti-corruption code and one declared an excluded person.

"Some of the people who were charged in recent weeks have already accepted their charges and are awaiting their agreed sanction," he said.

He explained that the Integrity Unit follows a three-category process after completing an investigation.

"If there is very strong evidence, I recommend charges. If the evidence is not strong enough to charge, people remain under monitoring and review for a period of time. Or there is no evidence and the matter is finished," he added.

Marshall clarified that the nine domestic cricketers who were not invited to the auction of the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) were not found guilty or cleared through an anti-corruption investigation.

He said the independent inquiry report, which ran to 900 pages, contained negative information about more than nine people, including foreign players, local players and other individuals associated with cricket.

"I identified all the people who were in the 900-page report who were likely to take part in BPL 12," he informed.

Marshall said he advised the then BPL governing council that some people featured in the report might pose a threat to the integrity of the tournament and that they might consider not inviting them to BPL 12.

"The only advice I gave about not inviting people was not nine; it was a higher number, and it was specifically for BPL 12," he revealed.

"There are no restrictions on any of the players. They've been playing." He also made it clear that the independent inquiry commission was not an anti-corruption investigation under the code.

"The inquiry committee was asked to do a different thing, and they did what they were asked to do," he said.

Marshall said his role was to provide confidential advice to the BPL governing council and that he could not impose bans or make final decisions on player participation.

"I cannot find anyone guilty. I cannot issue any bans. I oversee investigations," he remarked.

"At the end of the investigation, if I think the case is strong enough, very strong evidence, then I make a charging report recommendation to the general counsel, who then consults with the president to make a decision," he added.

Marshall said the BCB Integrity Unit is responsible for all domestic cricket in Bangladesh, while the International Cricket Council (ICC) handles international cricket, including international matches played in Bangladesh.

He said the unit receives information from players, coaches, team managers, journalists and the ICC regarding suspected corruption.

The unit assesses the credibility of the information before deciding whether to open an investigation.

"People make all sorts of allegations. Sometimes a team plays really badly, and we get three phone calls saying they were all out for 50; they must be fixed. But that's just an angry fan," he said.

Once an investigation begins, it remains confidential. Marshall said he had not named anyone under investigation during the last nine years, when he had dealt with more than 100 cases.

He also praised the support of BCB President Tamim Iqbal and the general counsel, saying they had allowed him to operate independently.

"You are seeing in Bangladesh proactive steps to stamp out corruption in cricket," he said.

"I think what is being done by my team and the support of the president and the general counsel is excellent, and you can compare it to anywhere in the world," he added.