Alex Marshall: 'The biggest threat to any league is when it appears vulnerable'

Alex Marshall, the new consultant to the BCB's anti-corruption department, wants to strengthen the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) so that it doesn't look like a "vulnerable" competition to bookies and other corruptors. Marshall, who was the ICC's anti-corruption unit general manager until September last year, has been appointed by the BCB for a year.

He arrived in Dhaka on Monday, and met BCB president Aminul Islam and the rest of the directors on Tuesday. Marshall said he would look at every aspect of the BPL, including team ownership structure, so that the tournament's foundation is less susceptible to corruption.

"The biggest threat to any franchise league around the world is when it appears vulnerable," Marshall said. "That's why we need to ensure the BPL does not give off that impression. The way the tournament is run, how finances are managed, and how team ownership is structured - all of these must be handled at a high, professional standard and properly safeguarded.

"The reality is, if a franchise league isn't seen as professional and well-protected, it eventually becomes a target for corruptors. We've seen this happen in many countries, and the BPL has also faced issues in the past. That's why it's essential for a new integrity unit to provide the protection the league needs."

The fallout from the BPL's last season, which finished in February this year, is still making headlines in Bangladesh. The board appointed an independent investigation committee following a swirl of corruption allegations in the BPL. Eight months on, the three-member committee is still wrapping up its investigation, with the BCB expecting the primary report later this month. The committee has reportedly uncovered several spot-fixing cases in the last five BPL seasons, including the 2024-25 edition.

The BCB is also still dealing with two franchises, Durbar Rajshahi and Chittagong Kings, who have dues pending with the board and players. The BCB recently released a statement detailing how much they are owed by Chittagong. BPL apart, the BCB's anti-corruption unit is also investigating a controversial stumping incident in last season's Dhaka Premier League, the country's main List A competition.

Marshall said he had found the full support of the BCB's directors, including president Aminul, as he looks to redesign the anti-corruption unit. He said much would depend on how much the unit can educate players, coaches and officials to shield them from corruptors.

"I am working with the board and the president to design an integrity unit that gives the right level of protection that is deserved within Bangladesh," Marshall said. "I will complete that design over the next three or four weeks, and I will then present that back to the board for their sign-off.

"Therefore, after that point, you would see the implementation of the unit. But that's just one moment of creating something. The effort needs to be long-term education, [and] protection. And if someone breaches the rules, they need to know they will be investigated and they will be prosecuted."