Allegations of spot-fixing have surfaced in Bangladesh’s domestic franchise tournament, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Blaming a weak “security structure” behind it, Marshall said, “In any franchise league, the biggest threat arises when weaknesses appear. If a franchise league is not run professionally and not well-protected, it will surely become a target for corrupt individuals. We must ensure that the BPL does not carry such an image. The way the tournament is run, the way franchises are allocated—everything has to be handled with complete professionalism by ensuring proper security.”
Calling for collective awareness to prevent corruption, Marshall added, “I want to make sure that the men and women who play for Bangladesh remain protected. I have spoken with the president, CEO, and board members (directors). They have assured me of their full support. We will restructure the Integrity Unit. Our goal is to educate everyone (about corruption prevention) so they understand what to do, become more aware, and leave no room for corrupt actors to exploit.”
According to a recent report in a national daily, match-fixing occurred in the last two editions of the Bangladesh Premier League, with details implicating several franchises. Regarding this sensitive issue, star opener Tamim Iqbal does not want to comment without knowing the full details.
The former national team captain believes it is better to wait until the Bangladesh Cricket Board officially releases the report.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday after meeting with physically challenged cricketers, he said, “Just the way you all have seen it, I have seen it too. But we don’t know how reliable that report is. So, if the responsible authorities provide a report and it is published, then it will be appropriate to speak on the matter.”
