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BPL tribunal hands over findings to ICC, BCB

The "reason judgement" from the BPL anti-corruption tribunal has been received by the the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board

Mohammad Isam
Mohammad Isam
08-Jun-2014
The tribunal will explain why players including Mosharraf Hossain were acquitted  •  ICL

The tribunal will explain why players including Mosharraf Hossain were acquitted  •  ICL

The "reason judgement" from the BPL anti-corruption tribunal has been received by the the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The accused in this case have also been sent the judgement details. The sanction hearing, when those found guilty get a chance to appeal their sentences, will take place in mid-June, after which the judgements are expected to be made public.
"A little while ago, our lawyers confirmed that they have received the reason judgement," BCB's acting chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters in Mirpur on Sunday afternoon. "We now have the details of the guilty and those who were found not guilty. Once we are fully aware of everything, we will let the media know."
The ICC also confirmed receiving the tribunal decision document and said that though it remained "disappointed" with the outcome, it will review the reasons for the decision.
The convenor of the three-member probe committee, Justice Khademul Islam, said the sanction hearing will be held on June 18 or 19.
"We will email them our verdict and the reasons behind them," Justice Islam told Dhaka Tribune. "We will also explain the reasons why we acquitted six individuals in our short hearing in February.
"We will hold the sanction hearing on June 18 or 19. Both the prosecutors and the defendants will be able to appeal the tribunal's complete decision during the sanction hearing."
On February 26, the tribunal in its short judgement acquitted six of the nine individuals, players and officials charged with match-fixing-related offences during the 2013 BPL.
Dhaka Gladiators chairman Salim Chowdhury, the franchise's CEO Gaurav Rawat, bowling coach Mohammad Rafique, and three players including Mosharraf Hossain, Mahbubul Alam and Kent allrounder Darren Stevens were acquitted of all charges after the tribunal concluded its hearing. Almost immediately, both the ICC and the BCB had expressed disappointment over the verdict.
Only Dhaka Gladiators' co-owner Shihab Chowdhury was guilty of making an attempt to fix the Gladiators' match against the Chittagong Kings in February last year. Ashraful confessed and pleaded guilty while the Sri Lanka legspinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi said he failed to report an approach made to him. Similarly, the BPL tribunal said back in February that Lou Vincent had also pleaded guilty to not reporting an illegal approach.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84