BCB urged cricketers to remain alert against potential fixers
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|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s disciplinary committee chairman Sheikh Sohel on urged cricketers to remain alert against approaches by potential fixers as they are very active on social media platform during this coronavirus pandemic.
Sohel came up with the request after Alex Marshall, the head of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit, has told the same as elite level cricket have been suspended for the ongoing crisis.
‘’I think being alert [against approaches from potential fixers] will be good because you never know anyone motive. Our national team players should be alert because they are busy doing social work for the people of Bangladesh currently in this ongoing situation,’’ Sohel told Cricfrenzy on Monday.
There has been no major cricket played since last month and there’s no certainty as to when any first-class, franchise or international matches will resume.
Alex Marshall, the head of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit, said it was wrong to assume this would lead to a decline in approaches from criminals who have long targeted cricket because the nature of the game means betting coups can be engineered by ‘fixing’ in-play events and not just the result.
“COVID-19 may have put a temporary stop on the playing of international and domestic cricket around the world but the corrupters are still active,” Marshall was quoted in Guardian.
“As a result, our work with members, players, player associations and agents continues.”
A former police chief in England, Marshall added his team was aware reductions in income caused by the current suspension of cricket could make lower-paid players more vulnerable to fixing approaches.
“We are seeing known corrupters use this time, when players are on social media more than ever, to connect with them and try to build a relationship that they can exploit at a later date,” he said.
“We have reached out to our members, players and their wider networks to highlight this issue and ensure they all continue to be aware of the dangers of approaches and do not let their guard down while there is no cricket being played,’’ he concluded.
