Bangladesh Cricketer Shohaly Akhter Banned for Five Years Over Match-Fixing
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a five-year ban on Bangladesh cricketer Shohaly Akhter after she admitted to match-fixing. The decision, announced on 11 February, stems from breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, effectively barring Akhter from any involvement in cricket until February 2030.
ICC Issues Lengthy Ban for Multiple Anti-Corruption Breaches
The ICC did not specify the number of matches affected but confirmed that the case relates to the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. Akhter did not participate in the tournament but was found guilty of engaging in corrupt activities surrounding the event.
The 36-year-old bowler was found to have committed five separate violations under the ICC’s anti-corruption rules:
- Match-Fixing (Article 2.1.3) – Akhter was found guilty of attempting to fix or influence the outcome of an international match by deliberately underperforming.
- Bribery (Article 2.1.3) – She admitted to accepting, offering, or soliciting a bribe to manipulate a match, either for betting or other corrupt purposes.
- Encouraging Fixing (Article 2.1.4) – The ICC determined that Akhter actively persuaded or facilitated another player’s involvement in match-fixing activities.
- Failure to Report (Article 2.4.4) – She failed to disclose approaches or invitations to engage in corrupt activities, a mandatory requirement for all professional players.
- Obstructing Investigation (Article 2.4.7) – Akhter was found to have delayed or hindered the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) probe, which may have included tampering with or destroying evidence.
Given the severity of these violations, the ICC imposed a full five-year suspension, effective 10 February 2025, prohibiting Akhter from any role within the sport.
Corruption in Sport Remains a Persistent Issue
Despite increased regulatory efforts, corruption and match-fixing continue to plague professional sports worldwide. In recent weeks, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) issued a provisional suspension to Thai player Jatuporn Na Lamphun over potential violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme.
The Bolivian Football Federation launched an investigation into five Club Real Santa Cruz players over suspected match-fixing. In the UK, the Darts Regulation Authority banned Leighton Bennett and Billy Warriner for match-fixing, while snooker player Mark King received a five-year suspension for similar offenses.