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Bangladesh’s Shohely Akhter has made history for the wrong reasons, becoming the first female cricketer to receive a ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on corruption charges. The off-spinner was found guilty of attempting to fix a match during the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup, including offering a bribe and failing to cooperate with the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigation.
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The Charges Against Shohely Akhter
The ICC found Shohely Akhter guilty of breaching multiple sections of its Anti-Corruption Code, specifically Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.4.4, and 2.4.7. She has admitted to the charges and accepted a five-year ban, effective from February 10, 2025.
Akhter, who last represented Bangladesh in 2022, played just two ODIs and 13 T20Is, taking 11 wickets in her international career. However, her involvement in match-fixing attempts during the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup led to her downfall.
How Shohely Akhter Tried to Fix a Match
📌 Target Match: Bangladesh vs. Australia, 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup (South Africa)
📌 Bribe Offered: 2 million Bangladeshi Taka (USD 16,400 approx.)
📌 Fixing Attempt: Akhter approached a Bangladesh teammate, urging her to get out hit wicket against a pacer.
According to the ICC’s investigation, on February 12, 2023, just before Bangladesh’s match against Australia, Shohely Akhter contacted her friend (a Bangladesh teammate) via Facebook Messenger. She sent voice notes attempting to persuade the player to carry out the fix.
The ICC report also revealed that Akhter claimed her cousin, who is involved in illegal betting, had asked her to make the approach. However, the targeted player immediately reported the incident to the ACU, which triggered the investigation.
ICC’s Stand on Corruption in Cricket
🔹 The ICC has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption in cricket.
🔹 Players are regularly educated about anti-corruption regulations and reporting protocols.
🔹 Shohely Akhter’s case highlights how attempting to manipulate matches can lead to severe consequences, regardless of a player’s stature or experience.
With this landmark decision, the ICC has once again sent a strong message that corruption has no place in cricket, ensuring the sport remains fair and transparent.
