The Bangladesh Cricket Board has quietly removed several cricketers from Sunday’s Bangladesh Premier League auction in Dhaka, acting on findings delivered by its independent inquiry panel. That three-member group was set up in the aftermath of last season, when whispers of corruption and spot-fixing cast a long shadow over the competition.
“We received advice from the independent chair of the integrity unit on steps necessary to further safeguard the league. Based on that advice, a number of individuals, including some players, have not been invited to participate in this year’s tournament,” the board confirmed in a brief statement on Friday.
The BCB has declined to publish the names or the exact number of those excluded, a decision that has already stirred quiet debate among agents and franchise officials. What is clear, though, is that the sanction is limited strictly to the BPL. “This is a BPL-specific measure taken to ensure fairness of the investigation process and to protect the integrity of the league. It does not apply to other domestic cricket events conducted under the jurisdiction of the BCB,” the statement added.
Alex Marshall, the former head of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, was appointed independent chair of the new integrity unit earlier this month and is understood to have been the driving force behind the recommendations. One franchise chief executive, speaking off the record, said, “We’ve been asking for firmer oversight for years. If the evidence is strong, it’s only right to take quick action.”
Players, meanwhile, are waiting for clarity. A seasoned domestic all-rounder told local reporters, “Nobody wants suspicion hanging over the dressing room. If someone has crossed the line, fair enough—but we’d like transparency.”
The auction will proceed as scheduled on 30 November, though the absence of several familiar names is likely to be noted once team lists are finalised.
