The agent of one English player involved in the scandal-hit Bangladesh Premier League has revealed disturbing details about fixing and illegal gambling in the competition.
The agent, who declined to be named, was able to travel to and from games on board the team coach and admitted to being shocked at the proximity and access franchise owners and other unidentified figures were able to gain to players.
A number of games are being investigated by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Security Unit and, after witnessing the lax tournament security at first hand, The Mail on Sunday’s source is not surprised the competition is little more than a money-laundering operation.
‘There was a saying, especially among some businessmen I met who were involved in the franchises, that there was only one way to make money in the tournament and that wasn’t by winning,’ he said.
‘The implication was that fixing matches was the only way to make large sums of money.
‘The owners were around the dressing room all the time and there were very few restrictions placed on where people could and couldn’t go.
Effigy: Protesters burn an effigy of Indian cricket board (BCCI) President N Srinivasan
‘I was surprised I was able to use my mobile phone so easily. A couple of times I was told to turn it off by tournament officials, but on the whole I was able to use it pretty much whenever and wherever I wanted to.’
ACSU officials were present at the ICC sanctioned event. ‘There was one ACSU official at each match but the consensus was that there was so much going on that he had absolutely no chance of keeping on top of everything,’ the source added.
‘It was a thankless task. None of the English players I spoke to had been approached directly but there was a strong undercurrent that stuff was going on.
‘A couple of players even talked about getting knocks on the door of their hotel rooms in the middle of the night and being offered large sums of money to bowl no balls or wides at certain times.’
Conference Indian cricket board (BCCI) President N. Srinivasan speaks to the media
