The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) headquarters in Mirpur was raided on Tuesday by a three-member team from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in connection with alleged irregularities surrounding the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and other domestic cricket tournaments.
The raid, which began around 12 PM, was prompted by complaints of corruption in team selections and ticket sales. ACC official Mahmudul Hasan, addressing the media, said, “The main issue of the complaint was corruption in the selection process of various cricket leagues under the Bangladesh Cricket Board. This enforcement operation is being conducted based on allegations of illegal transactions and other irregularities.”
Team selection under scrutiny
A key focus of the investigation is the 2023 team selection for the Third Division Qualifying round. The ACC is probing the sudden surge in applications after the participation fee was slashed from Taka 5 lakh to Taka 1 lakh, resulting in 60 teams applying—up from just a handful previously.
Hasan confirmed that relevant documents were collected from the BCB office and will be scrutinized for further action.
Ticket sales discrepancies
The ACC is also investigating discrepancies in ticket revenue reported during BPL seasons. From the 3rd to the 10th edition of the league, BCB reported a total ticket revenue of Taka 15 crore. However, in the 11th season—when BCB directly managed ticketing—the figure dropped to Taka 13 crore, prompting questions over potential underreporting.
The ACC’s investigation is still ongoing. Any further revelations could have serious implications for the country’s top cricketing body.
