New Delhi: The International Cricket Council has banned Bangladesh’s Shohely Akhter, making her the first woman cricketer to be punished on corruption charges after being found guilty of trying to fix 2023 T20 World Cup matches.
Shohely has represented Bangladesh in two ODIs and 13 T2OIs and was banned for five years. The 36-year-old, who bowls off-spin, admitted to breaching five counts of ICC’s anti-corruption code during the tournament that was held in South Africa.
Shohely wasn’t part of the Bangladesh squad for the tournament and her last appearance for her country was in 2022. She was charged with relation to corrupt charges.
She admitted to the charges levied against her with relation to articles 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.4.4 and 2.4.7 of ICC’s anti-corruption code and accepted the punishment that will begin from February 10, 2025.
Shohely was investigated for her conversation on a popular social media app with a cricketer on February 14, 2023. SHe had approached her former team-mate prior to Bangladesh’s Women’s T20 World Cup match against Australia on February 14.
Lure of big money
As per the probe, Shohely told her to get dismissed by hitting the wicket for which she would receive a payment of 2 million Bangladesh Takas.
Shohely promised that the deal would be safely conducted and all evidence of wrongdoing would be destroyed. But the player rejected the offer and reported the approach to ICC’s ACU, handing all voice notes from Shohely, who had deleted all evidence of conversations from her phone.
“The ICC has considered all of the circumstances of this case, including giving Ms Akhter credit for agreeing an outcome that avoids the need for a hearing and so saves considerable time and money for use elsewhere in the fight against corruption…,” the ICC said.
“The ICC therefore considers that a period of ineligibility of five years is reasonable and proportionate. Ms Akhter has agreed to this sanction.”
Shohely Akhter was banned for five years after admitting to her guilt in making fixing approaches to her one-time teammate. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
