The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has stepped up its efforts to curb match-fixing in domestic cricket, unveiling a proactive strategy aimed at stopping corruption before it takes hold.
Fixing has long been a concern in Bangladesh’s domestic circuit, with tournaments such as the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) repeatedly making headlines for the wrong reasons. With the latest edition of the BPL approaching, the board has moved early to strengthen its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
Tensions surfaced even before the auction for the 12th BPL, held on 30 November, when five players, including Anamul Haque Bijoy were placed under a ‘red flag’. Bijoy later drew attention with a series of outspoken social media posts.
For the upcoming BPL, the BCB has brought in multiple layers of oversight. Alongside the board’s Anti-Corruption Unit and officials from the ICC, Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will also play an active role.
Explaining the decision, the chairman of the BCB Umpires Committee said the CID’s task would be preventive rather than reactive.
“If you know a thief is coming, you have to stop him before the theft happens. We are following the same process used around the world,” he told reporters.
The 2025 BPL is widely viewed as the most affected by fixing allegations in the tournament’s history. In response, the BCB has appointed Alex Marshall, a former senior ICC anti-corruption official, to reinforce its integrity framework.
Marshall addressed the issue at a press conference on 11 December, outlining strict procedures to identify and deter corruption. Referring to his guidance, the Umpires Committee chairman stressed that the board is operating under a zero-tolerance policy.
“Access for players and match officials has been significantly reduced. Accreditation cards are now issued only after 25 separate verification checks,” he said.
The BCB is also set to hold a high-level meeting with the CID on Tuesday to further coordinate efforts. A board director confirmed that both local and international anti-corruption bodies will be present throughout the tournament.
“Our Anti-Corruption and Integrity Units have been given clear instructions. Officials from the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit will work alongside our own team, and we have a major meeting scheduled with the CID,” he said.
Earlier, on 29 November, the BCB announced that players accused of fixing, based on recommendations from consultant Alex Marshall, would not be included in the BPL auction. However, the board clarified that this policy would not extend to other domestic competitions.
The players placed under the red flag included Enamul Haque Bijoy, Sanjamul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Alauddin Babu, Mizanur Rahman and Nihaduzzaman.
