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Key Takeaways
- 1đź“Š BCB integrity operations in BPL trigger major franchise backlash
- 2🏆 Dhaka Capitals CEO blasts unit, even hinting at future withdrawal
- 3đź’ˇ Rahmanullah Gurbaz upset by unannounced hotel room inspection
- 4🔮 Balancing strict vigilance and franchise confidence is BPL’s big test
"The clarification has come after couple of BPL franchises expressed their displeasure on the conduct of the Integrity Unit"
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has moved to defend its much-debated Integrity Unit after simmering tensions with Dhaka Capitals and Noakhali Express boiled over during the ongoing BPL season.
Franchises fume as integrity checks turn intrusive
What began as “routine operations” under the ICC’s global integrity framework has escalated into a full-blown flashpoint. The BCB’s Integrity Unit, led by independent chairman Alex Marshall, has been conducting surprise checks on franchises, officials and players, acting on what it calls credible suspicion around the league.
Dhaka Capitals CEO Atik Fahad went public with his frustration, complaining that integrity officials were making life miserable for the franchise in the name of investigation and even threatening that Dhaka might pull out of future BPL seasons. The breaking point, from Dhaka’s side, was a highly controversial early-morning visit.
Integrity officers reportedly entered the hotel room of Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz without prior intimation to the player or the franchise. The surprise entry left the overseas star completely rattled, unsure of what was happening or why he was being approached in that manner. For a marquee foreign player, it was hardly the welcome he expected.
From BCB’s perspective, these are standard, proactive checks designed to keep corruption away from the tournament before it can seep in. But for teams like Dhaka and Noakhali, the line between vigilance and intrusion feels increasingly blurred.
How the board manages this fault line will be crucial. The BPL desperately needs both – a reputation for clean cricket and the confidence of its franchises and overseas stars. Right now, those two priorities are pulling in opposite directions.
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