The Bangladesh Premier League is now facing yet another corruption scandal that is related to a former Bangladesh Cricket Board official. Former BCB director and Audit Committee chairman Muhammad Mukhlesur Rahman, known as Shamim, has been formally charged under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code over alleged corrupt conduct during the 12th edition of the BPL.
Shamim is facing four charges, including allegations that he attempted to influence the conduct of a match, facilitated corrupt behavior, failed to report a corrupt approach and obstructed an investigation. Two other former BCB officials, Zakir Hossain and Rakibul Islam Sunny, have also been charged following an investigation by the BCB Integrity Unit.
All three have been provisionally suspended from cricket-related activities and have been given 14 days to respond to their Notices of Charge.
Shamim Faces Four Charges
Shamim has the longest list of allegations among the three former officials. The most serious charges fall under Articles 2.1.1 and 2.1.4 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. These provisions cover attempts to fix or improperly influence the result, progress or conduct of a match, as well as encouraging or facilitating another person to engage in corrupt conduct.
The allegations do not stop there. Shamim has also been charged under Article 2.4.4, which concerns failing to report an approach or invitation to engage in corrupt conduct to the appropriate anti-corruption official.
His fourth charge, under Article 2.4.7, relates to alleged obstruction of the investigation. The provision covers conduct such as concealing, tampering with, deleting or destroying information that could be relevant to an anti-corruption inquiry.
That makes the case particularly serious, although it is important to stress that the charges are allegations and do not amount to a finding of guilt.
Two More Former Officials Involved
Shamim is not the only former BCB official facing disciplinary action. Zakir Hossain, who once worked as a Security Liaison Officer for BCB, has been accused under Articles 2.1.1 and 2.1.4 of attempting to manipulate the outcome of a game and engaging in corrupt practices.
He also faces a charge under Article 2.4.6, which deals with failing or refusing to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation. Rakibul Islam Sunny, a former BCB councilor for Bogura District and former member-secretary of the Audit Committee, faces two charges.
He has been charged under Article 2.4.4 for allegedly failing to report a corrupt approach. The second charge, under Article 2.4.6, relates to alleged non-cooperation with the investigation. The three cases are now moving through the disciplinary process.
BPL 12 Investigation Behind the Charges
The charges follow an investigation by the BCB Integrity Unit into alleged corruption during the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. The investigation examined allegations surrounding match conduct, approaches linked to possible corrupt activity and the response of individuals who were questioned during the probe.
The latest cases also highlight an important part of anti-corruption work that often receives less attention: the duty to cooperate with investigators. Under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, participants are required to report corrupt approaches and assist investigations. Failure to do so can itself lead to disciplinary charges, even where a separate allegation of match manipulation has not been established.
The BCB has already taken action against other individuals as part of the wider investigation into the 2025 BPL. With the latest three cases, the corruption probe has now expanded to include former senior board personnel, adding another layer to an investigation that has already attracted considerable attention in Bangladesh cricket.
What Happens Now?
The three former officials have been provisionally suspended while the cases are dealt with.
They have 14 days from receiving their Notices of Charge to submit their responses to the allegations.
What happens after that will depend on the disciplinary process. The charges will need to be considered, and the individuals involved will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations against them. The BCB has not announced any final punishment because no such determination has been made at this stage.
For the BPL, however, the latest development is another unwanted headline. The tournament remains one of Bangladesh’s biggest cricket properties, attracting leading domestic players and overseas names, but allegations of corruption have repeatedly raised questions about its administration and integrity.
This case is also different because it involves people who previously held positions inside the country’s cricket administration. Whether the allegations ultimately lead to bans or other sanctions will be decided through the disciplinary proceedings.
Until then, Shamim, Zakir Hossain and Rakibul Islam Sunny remain charged individuals, not convicted offenders. For Bangladesh cricket, the focus now shifts from the investigation to what comes next.
