‘Neither guilty nor innocent’: Excluded BPL players free to play

Cricketers excluded from the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) over suspicions of involvement in fixing-related irregularities are free to play in other competitions in Bangladesh, according to Alex Marshall, independent chair of the BCB’s Integrity Unit.

Marshall, speaking to reporters in Mirpur on Saturday, clarified that his recommendation to exclude the players applied specifically to BPL 12 and did not prevent them from participating in other tournaments.

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A day before the players’ auction for BPL 12 in November last year, the BCB excluded several local cricketers from the auction list over suspicions of their involvement in fixing-related irregularities during the previous edition.

The decision came following a recommendation from Marshall, who advised the board not to include any cricketers or officials who had been “red-flagged” by the board’s inquiry committee.

“The only advice I gave about not inviting people was not nine; it was a higher number, and it was specifically for BPL 12. There are no restrictions on any of the players taking part in cricket unless they are currently charged, and none of them have been charged. Therefore, they are clear to play,” Marshall told reporters.

Several of those players have since featured in different domestic tournaments organised by the BCB, while one has also represented Bangladesh in national colours.

Several of those players have since featured in different domestic tournaments organised by the BCB, while one has also represented Bangladesh in national colours.

However, when Integrity Unit general counsel and BCB lawyer Mahin M Rahman was asked whether the players had been completely cleared of the allegations, he said: “They are neither guilty nor innocent.”

Since Marshall’s appointment, the Integrity Unit has charged several individuals with breaching different provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. The latest cases were announced on September 1, when a former BCB director and two other individuals were charged.

Marshall said more names could be announced in the coming weeks.

“Some of the people who were charged in recent weeks have already accepted their charges and are awaiting their agreed sanctions.

“We’ve announced eight cases in recent weeks. There are more cases under investigation. You can expect to see some more announcements in the coming weeks.”