The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been shrouded in controversy following the exclusion of nine cricketers, including Anamul Haque Bijoy and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, from this year’s players’ auction. Although none of the nine have been formally banned, the BPL Governing Council opted to omit them due to strong suspicions of involvement in match-fixing activities.
Today, Alex Marshall, head of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), clarified the reasoning behind the decision at a press briefing, shedding light on the delicate and ongoing investigation.
Table of Contents
Why the Players Were Excluded
Despite the absence of any official sanctions, Marshall stated that he recommended the Governing Council keep the involved players out of this year’s BPL until investigations conclude.
Marshall explained:
“With the information available to me at this stage, I advised the BPL Governing Council not to include them this year. I do not wish to violate their rights, but the matter does not concern only the players. Several non-cricketers have also been barred from involvement in the league.”
He emphasised that these individuals’ names would not be disclosed publicly at this stage to ensure fairness in the investigative process.
Signals and Evidence of Fixing
Marshall offered rare insight into how match-fixing signals are detected.
“When rules are broken, certain patterns appear. Players sometimes use signals—these can be exploited by those involved in betting. A wide on the second ball of an over, or suddenly changing the colour of a bat handle from yellow to pink—these can all serve as coded messages.”
He added that his team is aware of most of the commonly used fixing signals globally, and the findings have been compiled into a 900-page report. This report includes a recommendation that certain individuals should not participate in the current BPL season.
Why There Is No Formal Ban Yet
Marshall clarified why the implicated players have not been officially suspended from all cricketing activities.
“The question is: why are they not banned entirely? The reason is that the 900-page report has just been received. To issue bans, there is a detailed process—we must speak to everyone involved, review evidence thoroughly, and ensure procedural fairness.”
He explained that issuing a cricket ban is a lengthy procedure, often taking several months, as all parties must be given the chance to respond.
“If guilt is confirmed after following due procedure, bans will be imposed. But such actions cannot be taken overnight.”
Summary of Key Points
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of excluded players | 9 |
| Official ban status | No formal bans yet |
| Reason for exclusion | Suspicion of involvement in fixing |
| Authority involved | BCB Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) |
| Report size | 900 pages |
| Possibility of future bans | Yes—after completing full procedures |
Conclusion
While the absence of Bijoy, Mosaddek, and others has raised eyebrows, the BCB and its ACU are treading carefully to ensure justice and due process. The current exclusion from BPL is a precautionary measure, not yet a punishment.
Once investigations conclude, the cricket community may see formal charges or exonerations—but until then, the situation remains tense, closely monitored, and rooted in the effort to safeguard the integrity of the game.