BCB’s new integrity unit has tough task at hand, with the Bangladesh Premier League embroiled with fixing allegations.
BCB’s new anti-corruption consultant is designing a new integrity unit.
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) needs to be strengthened, according to Alex Marshall, the new consultant to the BCB’s anti-corruption department, so that bookies and other corrupt officials won’t perceive it as a “vulnerable” competition. Marshall, who was the ICC’s anti-corruption unit general manager until September last year, has been appointed by the BCB for a year.
He visited BCB president Aminul Islam and the other directors on Tuesday after arriving in Dhaka on Monday. Marshall said he will look at every area of the BPL, including team ownership structure, so that the tournament’s base is less susceptible to manipulation.
“The biggest threat to any franchise league around the world is when it appears vulnerable,” Marshall said. “That’s why we need to ensure the BPL does not give off that impression. The way the tournament is run, how finances are managed, and how team ownership is structured – all of these must be handled at a high, professional standard and properly safeguarded.
“The reality is, if a franchise league isn’t seen as professional and well-protected, it eventually becomes a target for corruptors. We’ve seen this happen in many countries, and the BPL has also faced issues in the past. That’s why it’s essential for a new integrity unit to provide the protection the league needs.”
The Current Situation
In Bangladesh, the aftermath of the BPL’s final season, which concluded in February of current year, continues to get media attention. Following a wave of accusations of corruption in the BPL, the board established an independent investigating committee. The three-member committee is still working to complete its probe after eight months, and the BCB anticipates receiving the main report later this month. According to reports, during the last five BPL seasons—including the 2024–25 season—the committee has discovered multiple instances of spot-fixing.
Additionally, the BCB continues to deal with two franchises that owe money to the board and players: Durbar Rajshahi and Chittagong Kings. The BCB has issued a statement outlining the amount Chittagong owes them.
“I am working with the board and the president to design an integrity unit that gives the right level of protection that is deserved within Bangladesh,” Marshall said. “I will complete that design over the next three or four weeks, and I will then present that back to the board for their sign-off.
“Therefore, after that point, you would see the implementation of the unit. But that’s just one moment of creating something. The effort needs to be long-term education, [and] protection. And if someone breaches the rules, they need to know they will be investigated and they will be prosecuted.”