The Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has recommended a five year ban on Minhajul Abedin Sabbir due to a recent controversial match fixing incident that happened in Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL).
In a game between Shinepukur Cricket club and Gulshan Cricket , Shinepukur was just six runs away from victory when Sabbir walked out of his crease in a manner that sparked widespread criticism. Live broadcast footage of the match showed Sabbir stepping out of his crease and then briefly placing his bat back on the popping crease line, only to pull it out again, just before the wicketkeeper broke the stumps. The way he positioned his bat gave the impression that he got out deliberately. Following his dismissal, Shinepukur went on to lose the match.
Following the incident, ACU launched a full investigation and after several months found evidence of Sabbir’s involvement into match fixing.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) launched a full investigation into the incident. After several months, the ACU reportedly found evidence of Sabbir’s involvement in match-fixing. According to various sources, the ACU has recommended a five-year ban from all forms of cricket for Sabbir due to his role in the controversial dismissal. However, no official announcement has yet been made by the BCB.
Sabbir’s dismissal drew heavy criticism from BCB officials, players, and other stakeholders in the cricketing community. As part of the investigation, both Sabbir and Gulshan Cricket Club’s wicketkeeper Alif Hasan were summoned to the BCB Academy Ground on April 10. In front of ACU chief Raiyan Azad, they re-enacted the exact moment of the stumping for further review, and video footage of the re-enactment was recorded.
Following the ‘unnatural’ nature of the dismissal, the BCB had reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption in cricket. In line with this, the ACU’s investigation revealed Sabbir’s involvement in match-fixing. According to the ACU’s findings, three main charges have been brought against him:
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Attempting to fix a match
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Failing to report contact with a suspected bookie
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Non-cooperation during the investigation
This incident serves as yet another reminder of the BCB’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the game.