7 cricketers, officials involved: ICC

International Cricket Council Chief Executive David Richardson speaks at a press conference at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Seven cricketers and officials were directly involved in match fixing while two more were aware of the development during the 2013 edition of Bangladesh Premiere League (BPL), the Anti corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of ICC revealed on Tuesday.

The nine will get two weeks to appeal to the authorities to review the decision or plead guilty, said David Richardson, CEO of International Cricket Council (ICC) during a joint press briefing with BCB at Radisson Hotel in the capital.

However, the ICC chief refused to name anyone, saying: “Due to the right to provision and possibility of widespread media speculation, we will not reveal any name today.”

After the hearing, set to be held two weeks from now, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) which has been authorised to take final decision regarding punishment, will deliver its judgment, he said.

“We have full respect to whatever decision the BCB comes up with,” said the ICC chief.

If proven guilty, they may be awarded five years to lifetime ban in all forms of cricket while those failing to report fixing developments might be given bans from two to five years, he added.

“Clearly there is more work to be done in the prosecution of these cases, but a significant amount of work has already been undertaken, with the BCB’s cooperation throughout, and I am grateful to all concerned."

“Whilst we have charged some individuals with failing to report corrupt approaches that were made to them, it is important to stress that this investigation has also been built upon, among other things, evidence gathered from other individuals who not only rejected corrupt approaches made to them, but then did what they were supposed to do, and reported them to the ACSU."

“The continuing fight against corruption in cricket is not only the responsibility of the authorities like the ICC and the BCB, but it is increasingly the personal responsibility also of all players and support personnel (including team owners, administrators, officials and representatives). They must work closely with the authorities and comply with their reporting responsibilities at all times, so that the integrity of the sport can be protected for the greater good."

“Finally, I must also compliment the BCB for its complete support and cooperation throughout this entire process. Its decision to appoint ICC (through its ACSU and legal functions) to investigate and prosecute this matter, demonstrates its commitment to a fair, transparent and independent investigation and prosecution,” the ICC official said.

The BCB President Nazmul Hassan reiterated that the BCB is committed to protecting the integrity and reputation of the sport in Bangladesh and emphasised his desire that anyone found guilty of breaching the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code should be severely dealt with in accordance with the sanctioning principles set out in the Code.

“As the custodians of the sport in Bangladesh, it is the responsibility of the BCB to protect its integrity for all those who engage in any way with the sport of cricket, whether players, spectators, broadcasters, sponsors or otherwise."

“The BCB is committed to doing everything possible to defend it from the very small group of people who are willing to compromise the values of the overwhelming majority for personal greed and, in so doing, bring disgrace upon themselves and their associates, as well as tarnishing the image of the game,” Hassan said.

Reports of match-fixing in the BPL and in international cricket rocked the country in June this year.

Bangla daily Prothom Alo on May 30 alleged that Bangladesh cricketer Mohammad Ashraful was involved in spot-fixing in the international circuit since 2004.

The daily also accused a number of former cricketers of introducing Ashraful to bookies at different points of the batsman’s career.

On June 5, a tearful Ashraful publicly confessed to the allegations while asking forgiveness from cricket lovers of the country for his wrongdoings.

On the same day, BCB temporarily suspended him from all cricketing activities until the board received the ACSU report.

Just before the press conference, Ashraful met with ACSU representatives. Emerging from the meeting, he told reporters that he fully cooperated with the ACSU and BCB. “If possible, I want to come back to cricket,” he said.

In May, a two-member team of the ACSU arrived in Dhaka in a bid to conduct their investigation regarding the alleged fixing issues in the second edition of the BPL.