Shohely Akhter denies spot-fixing allegations

On February 15, 2023, Bangladesh cricket was rocked by spot-fixing allegations in the backdrop of national cricketer Shohely Akhter having reportedly made an offer to her team-mate Lata Mondal to spot-fix, who in turn rejected it and communicated to Bangladesh Cricket Board about the same. Mondal is currently playing the T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Subsequently, BCB confirmed to Cricbuzz that they have informed the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) about it. Shohely, however, has denied the allegation, adding that it was a case of miscommunication.

During an exclusive chat with Cricbuzz, the off-spinner claimed that she is paying the price for trying to prove to a suspected bookie that her national team-mates would not accept any offer to fix matches. She has played 2 ODIs and 13 T20Is so far for Bangladesh.

Here are the excerpts:

Do you know there are spot-fixing allegations against you?

Yes, I am aware of it.

Can you just explain what exactly happened?

Yesterday, Jamuna TV called me and I said what is true. But as they cut my words, it became difficult to explain what I was saying. They asked me whether I can make contact with a player and a bookie and I said no. They later said that they have revealed Shakib Al Hasan’s fixing issue (of not informing the ACU).

Later they asked me whether I approached any national cricketer and I told the truth. Two days back, I met one Facebook friend and he told me, ‘Apu you lost to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup and again here, you lost to Sri Lanka in the World Cup. I feel that your players are involved in fixing. Especially the top-order batters, who cannot score runs. Even the bowlers are fixing through bowling wides’. I told him, ‘Look, our players don’t do such things. Winning every game matters to us because we don’t often win games too often. If you ask me to fix, I will certainly say no and I won’t betray my country’.

We had lots of heated arguments and at one point I got excited. I told him no matter how much you offer, no one will accept it. Later I told him that if you want any proof I can give that. ‘Let me ask one player and she will deny it immediately. Do you want to see that?’ and that was my biggest mistake – getting into an argument with him and proceeding in that manner.

So you just wanted to prove that your team-mates are not involved in fixing?

Yes, I just wanted to prove that and Lata informed the ACSU. Firstly, I made a mistake by doing it and now it turned out to be a complicated affair after Lata informed ACSU. It seems like I have approached her for fixing.

Who is Akash? Is he an Indian as claimed in the report?

They asked me with whom I have spoken. I told them that he is a Facebook friend called Akash. I told them the truth. He is a Bangladeshi and stays somewhere in Dhaka. He told me to meet him in Mirpur, and as I was free, I agreed. When he told me he is in Mirpur, I asked him to come in front of Sony Cinema Hall and have tea with me.

According to the report, one of your cousins is involved in betting.

No, basically I was not understanding what to say and how to approach Lata and at that point, Akash told me to say it in such a manner that she would trust me. And later he asked me to say that one of my brothers is involved in betting, and now that the offer is good, whether she would interested to spot-fix. At that point, I told him that she will refuse, but I did what he told me to do.

Did that person offer you a monetary reward?

No.

How did this particular conversation snowball into a controversy?

When I called Lata, she was not online. I left her a voice message and later forwarded Lata’s response to him. Lata, on the other hand, sent that voice message to ACSU.

Is there anything apart from it?

No, there is nothing more to it.

So are you trying to say that the entire conversation is a miscommunication?

Yes, Lata felt I seriously made her an offer and she immediately informed it (to ACSU), and I could not tell her or make her understand that I had challenged someone.

If and when the ACSU interrogates you, will you stick to your current stand?

Yes, I will say the same thing.

Did you speak with anyone from the board?

Yesterday I called Nadel Sir (BCB women’s wing chairman) and Towhid Sir (BCB women’s wing official) to inform them about what had happened at that point. Nadel Sir told me that he was busy and Towhid Sir did not pick up the phone. What can I do now?

(Cricbuzz)