BPL 2025-26: BCB's integrity unit finds credible suspicion, board clarifies routine operations after furore

Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) Integrity Unit has found credible suspicion in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which has prompted them to undertake “routine” operations under ICC's global integrity framework. 

As part of the process, certain players have been interrogated, and some franchise officials’ mobile phones have been confiscated. However, the BCB has confirmed that it has not found anyone guilty thus far.

"As part of standard integrity procedures, several foreign players have been spoken to privately as witnesses in order to verify recruitment processes, contractual arrangements, and payment structures," the BCB statement read. "Such meetings are confidential and preventive in nature, and do not imply that any player is under investigation or has already been found guilty."

Recently, Dhaka Capitals and Noakhali Express took a dig at BCB's Integrity Unit (BCB IU), headed by its independent chairman Alex Marshall, for giving them a hard time during the investigation.

Dhaka Capitals' chief executive Atik Fahad voiced his frustration in public and accused the BCB IU of barging into Rahmanullah Gurbaz's hotel room early morning in Sylhet, causing severe mental distress to the player. He suggested that such actions could force the franchise to contemplate its future participation in the league.

"The anti-corruption unit should have at least considered this before going to such a player, but this type of behaviour with a big player is something neither he can accept nor can we accept," Fahad said during a press briefing. "Going into the room of a big foreign player - someone who is playing in the ILT20 and elsewhere - and creating trouble like that.

"If the management is not content mentally, if my players are not content, what better result can we expect? We are running the BPL while losing BDT 2-3 crore every year. On top of that, if we are mentally tortured like this, I don't know how we can stay competitive or continue to operate a franchise. If this situation continues, we won't have the courage to continue at all. I invest money, absorb losses, bring CSR funds from different companies, and then leave with humiliation. That is simply not possible."

Noakhali Express’ players and officials have also protested against the BCB IU officials’ conduct. The BCB, meanwhile, has expressed confidence in its integrity unit’s process.

"Such measures by the BCB IU [integrity unit] are part of BCB's zero-tolerance policy and drive against corrupt cricketing activities," a BCB statement said. "The BCB IU operates in accordance with the general processes under the prevailing anti-corruption code of the ICC. Therefore, there has been no violation of the rights of any player or franchisee personnel by the BCB IU team in any way.

"These preventive measures by the BCB IU have resulted in an approximately 80% reduction in alerts relating to suspicious activities. The BCB reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, and remains firmly committed to protecting the credibility, transparency and reputation of the Bangladesh Premier League."