Earlier today, shocking reports emerged from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), revealing that the franchise Fortune Barishal has banned seasoned cricketer Shoaib Malik due to his alleged involvement in match-fixing. However, the franchise’s owner, Mizanur Rahaman, vehemently denied these allegations and clarified the circumstances surrounding Malik’s departure from the team.
Rahaman, in a press conference held earlier today, addressed the media and dismissed claims that the franchise terminated Malik’s contract due to match-fixing allegations. He revealed that Malik had initially traveled to Dubai after the team’s last match and subsequently requested an extension of his leave. However, the franchise, anticipating crucial matches post-February 6, rejected the extension and decided to replace him with Ahmed Shehzad.
“Shoaib Malik was expected to stay with us till February 14, and after the last match, he went to Dubai. Later, he asked me whether he could come back on February 6. However, our main games are scheduled after the 14th, so it wouldn’t have been beneficial for him to return on the 6th. That’s when I informed him that we don’t need you,” Mizanur Rahaman stated.
The decision to part ways with Malik, however, had nothing to do with the match-fixing rumors circulating in the media, as clarified by Rahaman. The seasoned all-rounder had been a crucial part of the Fortune Barishal squad, contributing significantly to their performance in the tournament.
Despite these reassurances, concerns were raised during a recent BPL match where Shoaib Malik, known for his spin bowling, bowled three no-balls in a single over against Comilla Victorians on January 23. This unusual performance led to speculation and subsequently triggered an investigation by the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).
Mizanur Rahaman initially expressed support for an ACU investigation during an interview with Channel 24 on January 25, stating,
“It should be done because three no balls in one over bowled by an off-spinner is looking really absurd to me, and we lost the match there.”
However, in a recent official statement, Fortune Barishal denied all reports of match-fixing and termed them as fabricated.
In a video statement, Mizanur Rahaman refuted the allegations, asserting that Shoaib Malik left the BPL mid-season due to personal reasons.
“Last few days we are hearing a lot about Shoaib Malik. I deeply protest against it, and he is a good player who has given his best for our team. We don’t want to discuss it any further,” Rahaman declared.
Fortune Barishal’s owner regrets the choice of words
However, when contacted by Cricbuzz, Rahaman expressed regret about the choice of his words during the TV interview, stating,
“It’s unfortunate because I was just sharing my thoughts with them, and they telecasted it. We speak and discuss a lot of things, but that does not imply we are standing by it. Still, I feel that I shouldn’t have spoken that way.”
As the controversy continues to unfold, cricket fans and stakeholders await the outcome of the ACU investigation to determine the truth behind the allegations surrounding Shoaib Malik’s departure from Fortune Barishal.
Also, see:
Is Sarfaraz Ahmed leaving Pakistan?
