Abdur Razzak and BPL Players Fixing Charges

Abdur Razzak was one of Bangladesh's most experienced cricketers — a slow left-arm orthodox spinner who had represented his country in 13 Tests and 153 ODIs over a long international career. By 2017, he was in the twilight of his playing days but still active in the Bangladesh Premier League, where his experience and local knowledge made him a valuable franchise player.

The Bangladesh Premier League had grown rapidly into one of the major T20 leagues in Asia, but it also attracted the attention of corruption networks that targeted franchise T20 competitions globally. The BCB had been working with the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit to monitor the BPL, and during the 2017 edition, several suspicious approaches were identified.

Razzak was not approached as a naive first-time target — he was an experienced international cricketer who had received anti-corruption education and was aware of the obligation to report any corrupt approaches. When an individual connected to a fixing syndicate made contact with him, Razzak's response — or rather his failure to respond to the proper authorities — became the basis for charges against him.

The ICC's anti-corruption framework places an explicit obligation on players to report any approach that might constitute corruption, regardless of whether the player intends to engage with it. This reporting obligation exists precisely because anti-corruption investigators need intelligence about who is making approaches, through what channels, and what they are offering.

Razzak received an approach from an individual linked to a corruption network during the BPL. He did not engage with the approach in the sense of agreeing to fix anything. However, he also did not report it to the BCB or ICC anti-corruption officials within the timeframe required by the code. This failure to report — even without any active participation in fixing — constituted a breach.

When investigators became aware of the approach through other means, they confronted Razzak. His failure to self-report compounded the initial breach. The BCB, working with the ICC, brought charges under the Anti-Corruption Code. A two-year ban was imposed.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board investigated multiple cricketers for their involvement in fixing during BPL tournaments and domestic cricket. Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who had played 13 Tests and 153 ODIs for Bangladesh, was among those questioned about suspicious activities.

The BCB's Anti-Corruption Unit, working with the ICC, identified patterns of suspicious activity in BPL matches and domestic competitions. Several lower-profile Bangladeshi cricketers were found to have been involved in spot-fixing, with bookmakers targeting players who were on low contracts and financially vulnerable.

The investigations resulted in bans of varying lengths for several players. The BCB acknowledged that corruption remained a significant challenge, particularly in domestic cricket where anti-corruption resources were limited and player payments were low. The board pledged to strengthen its anti-corruption infrastructure and improve player education.

The recurring fixing scandals in Bangladeshi cricket led to calls for more robust governance and better player welfare. The BPL, which had started with great promise, saw its reputation significantly damaged by the persistent corruption allegations. The BCB implemented stricter vetting of franchise owners and stronger anti-corruption monitoring in subsequent seasons.

“Failure to report is as serious a breach as we treat it. Every player must report approaches — that is not optional.”

“Abdur Razzak served Bangladesh cricket well for many years. This is a sad end to a long career.”

“The BPL has faced challenges. We are committed to cleaning up domestic cricket and protecting its integrity.”

Razzak's two-year ban effectively ended his international cricket career. Although the ban was shorter than those received by players who actively participated in fixing, it cost him what would have been his final years in the game. He was 35 at the time of the ban — returning at 37 was unlikely to result in further international opportunities.

The BCB's handling of the case was seen as a sign of the board's commitment to enforcing anti-corruption standards even against popular veteran players. The message was clear: the obligation to report applies to everyone, and failure to report is itself a punishable offence.

The BPL's corruption issues during 2016–2017 were part of a wider problem affecting franchise T20 leagues globally. Several other Bangladeshi domestic cricketers also faced charges during this period. The BCB increased education programmes, strengthened vetting of those with access to players, and worked more closely with the ICC's anti-corruption infrastructure.