ICC Slaps Five-Year Ban on Shahily Akhtar for Match-Fixing
In a landmark decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned Bangladesh women’s team spinner Shahily Akhtar for five years following her involvement in match-fixing. The 36-year-old cricketer has been barred from participating in all formats of cricket after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
Charges and Violations
The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) found Shahily Akhtar guilty of multiple violations, including attempting to fix matches, offering bribes, failing to disclose full details to the ACU, and obstructing investigations. Akhtar admitted to the charges and accepted that she had breached five clauses of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
The ban, which came into effect on February 10, 2025, makes Shahily Akhtar the first female cricketer in the world to face a suspension for corruption-related offenses.
Background of the Scandal
The controversy came to light in 2023 when a Dhaka-based news channel released an audio clip allegedly featuring a conversation between two cricketers. Reports suggested that during the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, Lata Mondal had contacted Shahily Akhtar regarding match-fixing. However, Akhtar had previously dismissed the allegations, calling them a misunderstanding.
Career Overview
Shahily Akhtar, an off-spinner, has represented the Bangladesh women’s team in two One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 13 T20 Internationals. Her career now stands tarnished as she becomes a cautionary tale in the fight against corruption in cricket.
This case highlights the ICC’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption and serves as a stern warning to players worldwide. The cricketing community hopes this decision will reinforce the integrity of the sport and prevent similar incidents in the future.
