Mohammad Ashraful's ban reduced to 5 years

Former Bangladesh captain and middle-order batsman, Mohammad Ashraful's ban has been reduced to 5 years, with two years suspended. Ashraful had earlier been banned from all forms of cricket for 8 years after he and eight other individuals (including three foreigners) were charged with corruption during the second season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

A special tribunal set up by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to investigate match-fixing allegations, had passed the verdict in June 2014. A month later, Ashraful, who had admitted to his role in the fixing controversy, had appealed to the disciplinary panel, requesting for the ban to be reduced.

Justice Mohammad Abdur Rashid, chairman of the disciplinary panel of the BCB, said in a statement, "The sanction issued on 07 July 2013 is set aside. A period of ineligibility for five years commencing from 13 August 2013 is imposed upon the appellant with the credit that is available to him under article 6.4 of the Code and last two years is suspended subject to his participation in the anti-corruption education and training programme to be organized by BCB and/or ICC and would be entitled to return to cricket on or about 13 August 2016 upon production of a certificate of good conduct from ICC."

The tribunal was set-up on January 19th by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after the ACSU, which monitored the second edition of the BPL, had alleged match-fixing charges against the nine individuals. After investigation, the tribunal found Ashraful and the three others of being involved in wrongdoings.

Two overseas professionals, New Zealand batsman, Lou Vincent and Sri Lankan all-rounder, Kaushal Lokuarachchi - who confessed to their wrongdoings during the inquiry - were banned for a period of three years and 18 months respectively. Lokuarachchi, who also appealed to the panel, had his ban reduced to 12 months.

One of the owners of the Dhaka Gladiators franchise, Shihab Chowdhury - who was the only one proved guilty by the tribunal - was banned from all cricket related activities for a period of 10 years. His ban was upheld despite his appeal to the disciplinary panel. However, the fine of BDT 2 million levied on him was quashed.

The other six people named by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) were acquitted by the tribunal. The list included Salim Chowdhury, chairman of Dhaka Gladiators, who has now been slapped with a 10-year ban, dated from 13th August 2013.

ICC and BCB issue a joint statement

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have issued the following statement after the Chairman of the BCB Disciplinary Panel announced his determination in respect of the appeals in the anti-corruption proceedings arising out of the BPL 2013:

"The ICC and the BCB have received the determination and are pleased to note that Shihab Jishan Chowdury's 10-year ban has been upheld, while Salim Chowdhury has now also been found guilty and banned for 10 years. In respect of the other findings, the ICC and the BCB are in the process of carefully reviewing the determination, following which they will decide on their next steps, including whether or not to appeal any aspect(s) of the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"In the meantime, no further comment will be made by either the ICC or the BCB."