BPL Scandal
Ex-CJ Amin to lead BCB trial
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is now focused on forming a disciplinary panel after nine individuals — cricketers and officials — were charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday with breaching BCB’s anti-corruption code during the second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League.
The charges were based on a report by ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
It was learnt yesterday that former Chief Justice Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury has agreed to lead the 10-member panel and form tribunals from the members of the panel to conduct the trials of the accused.
Speaking to The Daily Star, the former chief justice confirmed his acceptance of the role. “I have given my consent to the BCB with regards to heading the panel,” said Chowdhury.
The panel will consist of retired Justices of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, members of the social elite and persons with expertise in cricket.
Chowdhury is likely to form more than one tribunal to hear the cases.
BCB officials were tight-lipped about the personnel who will make up the panel. The nine individuals, of whom three are foreigners, will have to appear before the disciplinary panel within 14 days of receiving the charges and either plead guilty or deny the charges. After that the trials to determine guilt and sentencing will commence.
TIB for exemplary punishment
Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has demanded exemplary punishment of the players and officials involved in match-fixing during the BPL.
It urged ICC to reassess and strengthen its anti-corruption programmes.
“TIB is deeply concerned about the demeaning incident for the country,” said a statement issued yesterday by Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB.
“We believe, by keeping the country’s cricket free of corruption and establishing good governance in this popular sport through stern action, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will try to regain crores of cricket fans’ trust,” it added.
Besides misdeeds of cricket players, it is equally important to weed out lack of professionalism, nepotism, and the administrative and commercial influence on the part of any stakeholder.
-With The Daily Star input
