Bangladeshi player banned for five years over anti-corruption breach
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Bangladesh women's cricketer Shohely Akhter has been handed a five-year ban from all cricket after violating the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption code.
The 36-year-old admitted to breaching five provisions of the code, including approaching a Bangladesh teammate and offering 2 million takas ($16,465) in exchange for getting out hit wicket during a 2023 Women's T20 World Cup match against Australia.
The ICC reported that Akhter made the approach through voice notes sent on Facebook. She was reported to the ICC's anti-corruption unit by the player she contacted.
The governing body acknowledged Akhter's cooperation in admitting to the charges, which allowed them to avoid a formal hearing, thus saving time and resources in the fight against corruption.
The sanction, a five-year ineligibility period, was deemed both fair and reasonable by the ICC, and Akhter has agreed to the ban. Akhter, who last played for Bangladesh in 2022, was not part of the team for the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
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