Shohely Akhter receives 5-year Ban for Corruption

Bangladeshi cricket player Shohely Akhter has been banned for five years by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The ban comes following multiple breaches of the anti-corruption code.

Akhter admitted attempting to influence match outcomes during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa.

The ICC’s investigation revealed that Akhter approached a fellow Bangladesh player before the team’s match against Australia on February 14, 2023.

She attempted to persuade the teammate to deliberately get out in a specific manner in exchange for a payment of two million Bangladeshi takas (£13,000).

Akhter claimed the offer was made on behalf of her cousin, who was involved in betting.

She also suggested that the amount could be increased if required.

The approached player immediately rejected the offer and reported the incident to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

According to the report, the player also provided voice messages as evidence to support their accusation.

When confronted by the ICC, Akhter initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming the messages were fabricated as part of a personal challenge with a friend.

However, a forensic review of her phone metadata disproved her claims.

Upon further investigation, she admitted to deleting messages and falsifying evidence to mislead investigators.

The ICC charged Akhter under five different provisions of its anti-corruption code.

These include attempting to manipulate match results, offering financial incentives for corruption, soliciting a teammate to engage in fixing, and failing to report a corrupt approach.

The charges also include obstructing the investigation by deleting key evidence.

Given the severity of her violations, she accepted a five-year ban starting from February 10, 2025.

The swift reporting of Akhter’s actions played a crucial role in exposing the attempted fixing.

The case highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining integrity in cricket, particularly in global tournaments.

The ICC remains vigilant in its efforts to prevent corruption and protect the sport from external influence.

This latest incident serves as a strong warning to players about the consequences of engaging in corrupt practices.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has yet to make a formal statement on the matter.

However, the ban is expected to have a lasting impact on efforts to curb corruption in the country’s cricketing circles.

However, the public claims that banning her for 5 years is not a sufficient punishment.

Since the crime is of an international level, they demand that Shohely Akhter be heavily fined as well.