Following the recent investigation into the BPL match-fixing controversy, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is working closely with the government to introduce a new law to criminalize the crime of match-fixing.
Recently, after the new interim government of Bangladesh assumed power, the BCB President also took charge of the case of match fixing in the domestic T20 tournament within the country. BPL has faced many such issues in recent times.
Earlier, an investigation committee had identified several unusual incidents in the previous season. Suspicious patterns of bowling and batting were marked in several incidents. Many players were found bowling wide balls and many questionable balls to change the outcome of the match.
BCB pressures Bangladesh government to make match-fixing a criminal offense
Most of the cricketers found involved were above 35, and hence, their comeback to international cricket seemed unlikely, yet a long shadow looms over their careers. The investigation will see potentially accused players, team officials and all others involved in the incidents banned from cricket.
The BCB is working closely with the Bangladesh government and hopes to bring in a law against match-fixing and make it a criminal offense in the country, so that anyone found guilty of being involved in such incidents can be convicted under the law.
BCB integrity counsel, Mahim M. Rahman, said that based on a 900-page report on match-fixing and corruption within the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the BPL Governing Council has banned nine cricketers from this year’s BPL auction.
BCB is considering setting up a legal framework
Moreover, in an exclusive interview, Rahman had further claimed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board plans to directly engage with government law making authorities to create a separate and clear legal framework.
“It has been criminalized in many countries including Sri Lanka and this has been done specifically in relation to cricket. They have criminalized it in such a way that it is directly targeted at cricket,” he said.
The law that has been proposed will remain under the penal law and courts can use it to convict people, but it will exist as a separate law and will not be included in the Penal Code of Bangladesh.
Plans to be implemented after Bangladesh general elections
Having booked the present accused for violations of the Anti-Corruption Code and various sections of the Gambling Act, Raman feels that the lack of a single law has complicated the process of enforcement.
“This will give structure to the entire system,” Rahman said. “It will all come under one law, and we are working on that.” Recently, online gambling was also banned in India, and efforts to criminalize such activities are gaining public attention.
He also said that the final decisions will be taken only after formal discussions with the government, which will be done only after the elected government takes charge after the Bangladesh general election to be held on February 12.
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