'Shocking!': Bizarre Player Act In DPL Leaves Cricket World In Shock, BCB Launches Investigation Amidst Match Fixing Rumours

'Shocking!': Bizarre Player Act In DPL Leaves Cricket World In Shock, BCB Launches Investigation Amidst Match Fixing Rumours (Source: X)

The Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB ) has launched an investigation into suspected match-fixing in the Dhaka Premier League DPL ). Concerns were raised about the potential match-fixing during the match between Shinepukur Cricket Club and Gulshan Cricket Club, where the former team needed seven runs to win in as many overs with a wicket to spare, however, they lost the game after batter Minhajul Abedin advanced down the ground and left a wide delivery, only to get stumped.

The replays showed that the batter could have avoided the stumping as his bat was inside the crease and he only needed to ground it, but he instead pulled it back outside the crease to get stumped. The bizarre stumping video went viral, and fans suspected it to be a case of potential match-fixing.

"Shocking! I've never seen anything like this," said one of the commentators on camera. During the same innings, another batted charged down the track and missed the delivery to get stumped, however, it looked like the batter never had any intention to connect with the ball.

BCCI took note of the act and launched an investigation, citing their zero-tolerance policy.

"The BCB wishes to reiterate its firm commitment to upholding the integrity of the game and maintaining the highest ethical standards in cricket. The Board has a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of corruption or misconduct that may compromise the spirit of the sport," the cricket board said in a statement.

"The BCB Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) and the League's Technical Committee have promptly initiated an investigation into the alleged irregularities associated with the match.

"The BCB remains committed to ensuring fairness and discipline in all cricketing activities under its jurisdiction and will take the necessary actions based on the findings of the investigation."

The DPL has been surrounded by match-fixing rumours, and the aforementioned incident was not a one-off. Earlier in the day, another DPL outfit, Partex Sporting Club's coach, Anwarul Mostakim, accused his players of deliberately playing negative cricket. He said that some of the players are not playing according to the plans, raising doubts about the alleged corruption in the league.

"Our officials gave certain instructions. But the players played in a completely different manner. Our officials said, even if the team gets all out for 100 runs, we want to see positive cricket. But instead, they played negatively," he said.

"By negative, I mean, for example, someone scores 18 runs off 50 balls, or another scores five runs off 40 balls. Our officials didn't accept this kind of performance."

"Many players have been calling me, saying: 'Your player is involved in fixing, this player is doing this, doing that.' I don't have experience with this fixing stuff; I don't know how it's done. But why play such negative cricket then?" Mostakim said.

Mostakim was asked if he suspects any foul play in the league, he said that questions have been raised about players' suspicious behaviour from different places.

"It's not just us -- calls are coming in from different places saying this is suspicious behavior, asking why the players in our team are playing like this. This is not how the game is supposed to be played. For instance, while chasing 220 runs, we scored only 37 runs in 20 overs. That's suspicious cricket. However, I can't say anything without proof."

Click here to read article