In a significant development, Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain has been handed a two-year ban from all cricket for breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. The 32-year-old, who accepted the charges brought against him in September 2023, will serve six months of the ban in a suspended capacity.
Hossain admitted to three charges, including failing to disclose the receipt of a gift worth over US$750—a new iPhone 12—to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official. Additionally, he did not provide full details of an approach or invitation to engage in corrupt conduct related to the iPhone 12. Moreover, Hossain refused to cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation without compelling justification.
Having played a pivotal role for Bangladesh in 115 matches across formats between 2011 and 2018, scoring 2695 runs and claiming 39 wickets, Hossain shifted his focus to the domestic circuit. His recent appearances include featuring for Prime Bank Cricket Club in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.
Nasir Hossain is set to be eligible for a return to international cricket on April 7, 2025, contingent upon meeting the conditions associated with the suspended portion of the sanction.
While Nasir Hossain’s ban is necessary for upholding the integrity of the game, questions linger about the prevalence of corruption in cricket, demanding a more comprehensive approach to address the issue.
