The three-member anti-corruption tribunal will hold the second hearing of the match-fixing allegations in the second Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) today.
The tribunal headed by Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury, a former judge of the Supreme Court, along with Azmal ul Hossain and former cricketer Shakil Kashem is in charge of looking into the allegations and statements made by Acsu (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) and the accused.
Members of the ICC head of Conduct & Ethics and company lawyer of ICC Iain Higgins, ICC legal officer Shili Clark and Jonathan Taylor, ICC prosecutor, are also expected to be present during today’s hearing at Navana Tower.
Acsu placed allegations against nine cricketers and officials, which included three foreign nationals, from Dhaka Gladiators, champions of both the editions of the tournament, after a lengthy probe.
In the first hearing held on November 23 last year, except former national cricketer Mohammad Rafique, lawyers of the other eight faced the tribunal. It was learnt that Rafique’s status remains unchanged from what it was in the first hearing. The former national cricketer, since the charges, cut-off all strings with the game and moves aside. It was reported in the media that the 43-year old intends not to keep further relation with cricket and thus is not bothered with the charges made by the ICC.
Meanwhile the other accused individuals are likely to appear in front of the panel today. Dhaka Gladiators all-rounder Darren Stevens, who reached Dhaka on Saturday, will face the panel to save his career.
The 37-year old faces two charges against him – one for failing to report a corrupt approach and the other charging him of match fixing – and if proved guilty he may be banned up to 10 years.