After a gap of more than a decade, the Bangladesh Premier League auction was finally held on Sunday, when franchises spent heavily on top players but the event was shaped by the decision to exclude seven cricketers placed on a red list over suspected fixing in the previous edition. The Bangladesh Cricket Board said the move was taken on the advice of Alex Marshall, head of the board’s anti corruption unit.
Marshall, who had originally joined the BCB as an anti corruption adviser before taking charge of the unit, said ahead of the auction that his guidance to the BPL governing council was based on findings from an earlier independent investigation. “Most of the historic issues were outlined in the independent committee’s detailed report,” he said. “With the tournament approaching, I advised the council that it would be prudent not to invite certain individuals this year. This is only one of several protective measures.”
He added that the integrity team was still reviewing recent incidents and that keeping some people at a distance was necessary until those inquiries were complete. “Our job is to protect cricket in Bangladesh, particularly during the twelfth BPL. Whether you watch the IPL in a stadium or the BPL on television, you expect high quality cricket and a competition that is entirely honest and transparent. That is what I want too,” Marshall said.
The former ICC official issued a wider warning that anti corruption rules apply to everyone involved in the game, including players, coaches, team owners, team management, board members and even the integrity unit itself. The code, he said, clearly defines breaches and outlines the sanctions for those who choose to offend. “This code will be enforced strictly. There will be no leniency,” he noted, urging all stakeholders to read or revisit the policy.
Marshall stressed that credible allegations will be investigated professionally, thoroughly and in complete confidence. He reminded all cricket personnel that they are obliged to report any suspicious activity immediately, including information related to past incidents. “We understand that some young players may have felt pressure in the past or faced difficult situations. Come forward now and tell us. Your information will be received with empathy, sensitivity and confidentiality,” he said.
Marshall added that attempts to target the BPL are likely to continue and that safeguarding the competition requires collective responsibility. “We all have to work together to protect the game,” he said.
