In a historic and unfortunate event, Bangladesh offspinner Shohely Akhter has become the first female cricketer to be banned for corruption. The International Cricket Council (ICC) found her guilty of attempting to fix matches, offering a bribe, and failing to disclose full details to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).
The charges against Shohely Akhter
Shohely Akhter, 36, was a former Bangladesh women’s national team offspinner. She played in two One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 13 T20Is for Bangladesh. Though she wasn’t a key player in the squad, her contributions were recognized within the team. Her last international appearance was in October 2022.
The ICC found Shohely guilty of breaching five provisions of its anti-corruption code. Her offenses included attempting to manipulate match outcomes, offering a financial bribe to a teammate, and deleting evidence to obstruct the investigation.
ICC’s Investigation and Findings
The ACU’s investigation was based on a conversation Shohely had with a Bangladesh cricketer via Facebook Messenger on February 14, 2023. This was during the Women’s T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh and Australia. Shohely allegedly offered 2 million Bangladeshi Taka (approximately $16,400 USD) to the player in exchange for getting out via hit-wicket during the game. The ICC conducted a thorough digital investigation, including: Analyzing message metadata, Verifying timestamps.
Shohely Akhter Response
Rather than accepting the offer, the player immediately reported the matter to the ICC’s ACU. She provided all the voice notes sent by Shohely as evidence. While Shohely attempted to delete these files from her devices, the ACU was able to retrieve them and verify the authenticity of the conversation.
Shohely initially claimed she was not genuinely making a corrupt offer but was instead proving a point about Bangladesh players’ integrity. However, metadata analysis revealed inconsistencies in her statements, proving the messages were created after the event.
During her interview with the ACU, Shohely admitted to sending the voice messages to the player. However, she initially asserted that her intention was merely to show her friend that the members of the Bangladesh team were not involved in any fixing, rather than making a genuine corrupt approach.
ICC’s Verdict and Ban
The ICC ruled that Shohely Akhter had breached anti-corruption regulations and imposed a five-year ban on her from all forms of cricket. The ban is considered final, with no right to appeal.
ICC stated, “It had considered the circumstances of the case, including giving Ms Akther 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, and has considered relevant precedents. The ICC therefore considers that a period of ineligibility of five (5) years is reasonable and proportionate. Ms Akhter has agreed to this sanction. As such, a period of ineligibility of five (5) years is imposed.”
Impact on Women’s Cricket
This incident is a significant setback for women’s cricket, especially in Bangladesh. It underscores the growing concerns over corruption in the sport. The case serves as a warning to players worldwide about the consequences of unethical behavior.
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