The Bangladesh Cricket Board is moving toward pushing for a law that would make match-fixing a criminal offence in the country. The board’s ad-hoc committee member Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed confirmed on Wednesday that the BCB plans to engage with the government on the matter, following a fresh wave of corruption cases tied to the Bangladesh Premier League.
Ibrahim, son of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, made it clear that the board has zero tolerance toward fixing and wants stronger legal tools to back that stance.
Why BCB Is Pushing for Stricter Laws Now
The push comes after the BCB recently charged several players and team owners under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code over a fixing scandal in the BPL. The board’s Anti-Corruption Unit submitted reports that led to notices being served to five individuals.
Ibrahim said that if fixing cases moves from civil to criminal jurisdiction, people will think twice before getting involved. Right now, the penalties fall under sporting regulations rather than the country’s penal system, which limits how far the punishment can go.
Match-fixing has been a recurring problem in the BPL since the league launched in 2012. Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful was banned for eight years after being found guilty of match and spot-fixing during the 2013 edition. The 2014 BPL edition had to be postponed altogether due to corruption concerns.
What the Legal Process Looks Like
Mahin M Rahman, head of BCB’s legal team and counsel to its Integrity Unit, said the process will begin after the Eid vacation. He explained that a law first needs to be drafted by the Law Commission, then approved by the Law Ministry, before it can move forward.
Rahman noted that a draft on the matter is already reportedly in the works. He added that match-fixing needs to fall under criminal law as a separate legislation, not simply tucked into the existing penal code.
Several countries have already gone down this road. Sri Lanka, for example, has passed laws that specifically target cricket corruption, with clear definitions and consequences for those involved in fixing or any other corrupt practices within the sport.
What This Means for Bangladesh Cricket Going Forward
Ibrahim is currently contesting in the BCB election scheduled for June 7 and is widely expected to secure a seat on the next elected board. His comments carry weight given the political access his position provides when it comes to pushing legislative changes.
The BCB’s message to players, officials, and organizers is straightforward. The recent bans and notices are being framed as a warning, not a ceiling. If the new law comes through, the consequences would extend well beyond sporting bans and could result in criminal prosecution.
Rahman confirmed he will follow up closely with the government after Eid to keep the process moving. The intent is to build a legal framework specific to cricket and other sports, one that goes beyond internal board regulations and gives law enforcement a direct role in tackling fixing at every level.
The BCB’s latest stance signals a shift from reactive punishment to structural reform in how Bangladesh handles corruption in cricket.
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