Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Mortaza is under investigation as of October 1, following serious allegations of extortion and shared manipulation involving the Sylhet Strikers, a franchise in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Pallabi Police have launched an inquiry into Mashrafe Mortaza, along with six others, regarding these claims.
The FIR was filed by Sarowar Golam Chowdhury, the former chairperson of the franchise’s U.S. subsidiary. Adil Hossain, the investigating inspector, confirmed the details, shedding light on the gravity of the situation.
Despite the issuance of summons, no arrests have been made at this stage, and an investigation is currently underway, according to reports from The Daily Star in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Suffers a Clean Sweep Against India in Kanpur
In other cricketing news, Bangladesh’s tour of India concluded on a disappointing note as they were whitewashed in the Test series. The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, secured a decisive victory in Kanpur, chasing down a target of 95 runs in just 17.2 overs on Day 5, thereby taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
Throughout the series, the Bangladeshi team struggled against a dominant Indian bowling lineup, primarily led by Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin, both of whom claimed 11 wickets each. Ashwin’s exceptional performances with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Series honor.
India Completes 2-0 Series Sweep with Spectacular Win in Rain-Affected Kanpur Test
With this win, India solidified their position at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, boasting eight victories in 11 matches and a points percentage of 74.24. They are well on their way to securing a spot in the final at Lord’s in June 2025. The competition for the other finalist spots is heating up, with Australia and Sri Lanka performing exceptionally well, including Sri Lanka’s recent whitewash of New Zealand.
In stark contrast, Bangladesh’s disappointing performance saw them slip to seventh place in the standings. Looking ahead, they will need to raise their game in an upcoming two-match series against South Africa to improve their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.