Scandal rocks Bangladesh T20 league

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has once again been tarnished by scandal on and off the pitch, with more allegations of match-fixing and “serious disciplinary breaches” damaging the reputation of the Twenty20 tournament.

First Rangpur Riders’ Jupiter Ghosh alleged last week that team manager Sanuar Hossain told him before the start of the ongoing tournament to fix results of matches. Ghosh then claimed he was dropped when he refused.

Then just days later, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) handed out a record $15,000 (£11,800) fine to two of its national stars, pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain and batsmen Sabbir Rahman, after they reportedly entertained female guests in their hotel rooms.

“The players have been reminded of their responsibility as national cricketers and have been warned that any repetition of similar acts of indiscretion in the future will result in harsher penalty,” the BCB said.

Al-Amin’s record fine amounts to 50 per cent of his BPL contract with the Barisal Bulls, while Rahman’s is equal to 30 per cent of his pay from Rajshahi Kings.

Regarding the match-fixing claims, the board added: “The BCB is investigating complaints lodged by a cricketer of the BPL 2016 franchise Rangpur Riders against an official of the same team.

“The BCB recognises that the allegations and counter allegations brought forward by the player and the official concerned, which includes both breach of discipline and corrupt practice, are of serious nature.”

Rangpur Riders expelled Ghosh after he went public with the accusations. Ghosh and Hossain were also suspended from the tournament pending further investigation.

Bangladesh officials also fined Rahman and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad 15 per cent of their match fees over an onfield bust-up.

Shahzad, who was also banned for two matches, nudged Sabbir with the bat when Rahman celebrated his dismissal during a match.

The competition first hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in 2013 following revelations that ex-Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and four others, including New Zealand’s Lou Vincent, were involved in fixing matches.

Ashraful was banned for eight years after making a tearful confession live on national television, but was allowed to return to domestic cricket earlier this year.

The BPL, which was launched four years ago, was then suspended for a season in 2014.

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka were among the big names taking part for the seven franchises playing in this year’s event.

Rajshahi Kings beat the Khulna Titans to secure a place in the finals against the Dhaka Dynamites.

The final will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Friday (December 9).