The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) newly appointed anti-corruption consultant Alex Marshall has announced plans to design a dedicated integrity unit aimed at protecting the country’s cricket from corruption.
Marshall, who previously served as the general manager of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit until September last year, has been appointed by the BCB on a one-year contract. He met with BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul and several board directors at a hotel in the city on Tuesday before addressing the media.
“The reason I’m here is to work with the President and the Board to design an integrity unit which protects the sport from all the different threats,” said Marshall.
He added, “We will make sure that the Bangladesh players, the women and the men who play for the country, are properly protected.”
Marshall praised the BCB’s support, noting, “I met today with the President and the CEO and some of the Board members. They are incredibly supportive of making sure that the sport is protected.”
He explained that the planned unit would ensure players and officials are educated on the risks and are surrounded by appropriate protection measures. “Everyone must understand what the threat looks like and what they need to look out for. The team must have the right security and we must ensure the corruptors are chased away.”
Marshall also placed particular emphasis on the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), identifying it as a potential area of concern. He stressed the need to examine every aspect of the tournament, including its team ownership structure.
“The biggest threat to any franchise league around the world is when it appears vulnerable,” he said. “That’s why we need to ensure the BPL does not give off that impression.”
He continued, “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.”
While acknowledging other risks such as doping and safeguarding issues, Marshall made it clear that the greatest threat facing cricket is the ongoing danger posed by match-fixers.
“There is always a risk of safeguarding, which is the risk of people suffering abuse, and all sports have to comply with the world rules on doping. But the biggest threat in cricket is from corruptors all over the world looking for an opportunity to find a player who they can bribe to underperform,” he said.