Former Chattogram Royals Owner and Official Suspended Over BPL Fixing Allegations

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the most high-profile domestic cricket tournament in the country, has once again been hit by the dark shadow of fixing and corruption, prompting the regulatory body to take disciplinary action against two senior officials of a franchise.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday (September 17) provisionally suspended former Chattogram Royals owner Abdul Qayum Rashed and the franchise’s former operations manager Amin Khan for allegedly breaching four separate provisions of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code.

An extensive investigation conducted by the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (BACIU) uncovered evidence of attempts to influence match outcomes, undisclosed financial transactions, and direct obstruction of investigators during the last two editions of the BPL.

Four formal charges have been brought against Abdul Qayum Rashed, including failing to disclose an approach to fix a match and refusing to hand over his personal mobile phone for digital forensic examination.

Amin Khan, who was part of the dugouts of Durbbar Rajshahi and Chattogram Royals in the two respective seasons, has been accused of attempting to induce other players to engage in fixing and concealing information by destroying records of important communications.

As a result of their provisional suspensions, the two accused individuals are currently barred from participating in all official cricket-related activities. However, they have been given 14 days to respond to the allegations and present their defence.

Once their responses are reviewed, an independent tribunal will be formed in accordance with ICC regulations. The tribunal will then determine the final sanctions, if any, against the two officials.