Dhaka’s cricket circles are buzzing with fresh controversy as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) launches an internal probe into serious corruption allegations against one of its directors, Mokhlesur Rahman. The move comes amid mounting pressures on the board, already under fire for its stance on the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.
The BCB’s Integrity Unit, spearheaded by former ICC Integrity head Alex Marshall, has kicked off the investigation following a damning 900-page report from an independent committee. This report details alleged irregularities during the last Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season. Rahman, who assumed his director role after elections on October 6, has reportedly stepped down from his position in response to the accusations.
This isn’t the first hiccup for BCB’s leadership. Just this month, another director, M Nazmul Islam, faced backlash from players who boycotted BPL matches on December 15 over his controversial social media remarks and press briefing comments. The timing couldn’t be worse, as Bangladesh grapples with the ICC over participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Tensions escalated after violence against Hindus in Bangladesh prompted backlash against Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s inclusion in the IPL by KKR. Following BCCI directives, KKR released him from their 2026 squad. In retaliation, BCB refused to send its team to India for the World Cup, demanding matches be shifted to Sri Lanka or a group swap with Ireland. The ICC rejected these pleas, and BCB, heeding government advice, stood firm on its boycott. Rumors now swirl that Scotland could replace Bangladesh in the tournament.
As the Integrity Unit delves deeper, Rahman joins a growing list of BCB officials under scrutiny. With Bangladesh’s cricketing reputation at stake, stakeholders are watching closely to see if these probes lead to meaningful reforms or further discord.