The ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has already been marred with a plethora of controversies, the latest of which include the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) identifying eight matches for suspicion of spot-fixing and match-fixing based on anonymous tips and media reports. 

The Daily Star also saw a few documents in which the ACU is seen monitoring 10 different players and four franchises. 

Out of the 10 cricketers, six have represented the Bangladesh national team, two are uncapped Bangladeshi players, and two are foreign cricketers. Among the franchises, Durbar Rajshahi and Dhaka Capitals have the most integrity flags, with each having 12, while Sylhet Strikers and Chittagong Kings have six and two respectively.

Meanwhile, according to documents seen by The Daily Star, the matches in question are: Fortune Barishal vs Rajshahi (January 6), Rangpur Riders vs Dhaka (January 7), Dhaka vs Sylhet (January 10), Rajshahi vs Dhaka (January 12), Chittagong vs Sylhet (January 13), Barishal vs Khulna Tigers (January 22), Chittagong vs Sylhet (January 22) and Rajshahi vs Rangpur (January 23).

In these matches, there were instances of bowlers conceding three consecutive wides, big no-balls, suspicious playing XI selection, and slow batting in the middle overs while chasing big totals. 

The documents also suggest that the matters the ACU is taking into consideration include match manipulation, affected betting markets, and, most importantly, the names of players involved. 

However, the fact that the payment, accommodation, and other allowances of the seven designated ACU integrity officers for each of the seven franchises are taken care of by the respective sides raises concerns regarding their work process. 

"It was brought to the attention of both [BCB] CEO [Nizamuddin Chowdhury] and [BCB] president [Faruque Ahmed] that when the ACU officials are with the team, how could they work properly if their expenses are taken care of by those franchises. They will definitely be biased," a BCB official, requesting anonymity, told The Daily Star.

"When I told them about the matter, the president and CEO agreed on the point. But later nothing changed, I don't know. But this is obviously an absurd matter," he concluded.

With integrity officers being directly involved with the franchises, the ACU's dependence on anonymous tips and media reports for such sensitive matters also hints that a lot of issues could be deliberately kept under the rug.  
 
Other questionable incidents could be observed in this BPL. The Daily Star identified at least two cricketers outside of the official team list – one each from the Rajshahi and Chittagong franchises – who were seen in the players' dugout. 

BCB's head of ACU, Major (Retd) Raiyan Azad, confirmed to The Daily Star that no PMOA [Players Match Officials Area] had been issued for any of them, insisting that he would look into it after he was provided with evidence of them being present at the dugout with the team on several occasions.

The PMOA comprises dressing rooms, viewing areas (dugouts), nets, dining areas, medical rooms, and operational rooms used by players, support staff, and match officials.

Being at the dugout without PMOA not only violates the security protocols but also raises doubts regarding suspicious activities by the franchises, including attempts of spot-fixing and match-fixing.

"If they stay at the dugout all the time during the match, it's a matter of concern for me. He may have taken the pass by some unfair means," said Raiyan, admitting that they are working on a few alleged suspicious matches in this year's competition.

"This is very common in international and franchise tournaments. When a tournament takes place, we get tips from many corners. The Intelligence hub of the ICC, our ACU network, and the media also have their network. So it's a regular process," said Raiyan, who also lamented not having enough permanent officials at the ACU.

"In the Dubai ILT20, there is an ICC ACU official for every match. Here I have been covering all 46 matches. The integrity officers aren't working here permanently. They come here, work for a certain time, and then leave," he added.

Since its inception in 2012, BPL has often been entangled in controversies, with instances of spot-fixing and match-fixing coming to light. In 2014, former Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful also admitted his involvement in match and spot-fixing in BPL in 2013 and was subsequently banned for eight years (three years suspended) by the BPL anti-corruption tribunal.