BPL 2019: Five Indians penalised for indulging in illegal betting in a day

The latest edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) kicked off on January 5 and on Tuesday, a mobile court fined as many as five Indian citizens for indulging in illegal betting through their mobile phones during matches of the tournament at Dhaka’s Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium. An inter-ministerial meeting a year ago empowered the local administration in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet to operate mobile courts during cricket games to tackle illegal betting when the last edition of BPL was on. The same is being followed this year as well.

The mobile court of executive magistrate Imrul Hasan said the five Indians were penalised 4,000 Bangladeshi Taka each and were also expelled from the venue. Recently, a top anti-corruption official at the International Cricket Council said that with the spread of franchise-based cricket, the scope of corruption has also increased in the world of cricket.

“They were involved in betting with mobile phones. We imposed a fine of Tk 4,000 for each and expelled them from the ground. They will not be allowed to watch any more BPL game this season,” Hasan was quoted by Cricbuzz as saying. Three of the five Indians – Deepak, Sanjeeb Kumar and Sunil Kumar – hailed from the state of Haryana, said the magistrate.

In all, six Indians have been penalised

Hasan also said that another Indian too was handed a similar punishment on Sunday. In all, 20 people, including six Indians, have been penalised in the first three days of the tournament, which will continue till February 5, he said. Even a Bangladeshi national was said to be jailed for entering the ground without a valid ticket and even threatening officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. He was identified as Sajeeb Ahmed from Madaripur.

Six games were completed in the current edition of the BPL till Tuesday with three-time champions Dhaka Dynamites (twice as Dhaka Gladiators) topping the list with four points from two games. Current champions Rangpur Riders also have four points though from three matches. Sylhet Sixers, Khulna Titans and Rajshahi Kings are yet to win their first game in this season’s tournament.

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