Bangladesh spinner gets five-year ban from ICC for £13,000 hit-wicket World Cup offer

Bangladeshi female cricket spin bowler Soheli Akhter has been banned for five years after offering a teammate £13,000 (approximately $16,465) during a World Cup match in exchange for getting herself out by hitting the wickets.

Akhter, 36, admitted to violating five articles of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code during the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup. The violation involved contacting a colleague through a series of voice messages on Facebook.

Reportedly, Akhter was not selected for the Bangladesh squad for that World Cup. She had previously represented Bangladesh in two One Day Internationals and 13 T20 matches. She asked the unnamed player to hit her own wickets during Bangladesh's eight-wicket loss to Australia on February 14, 2023. However, the player instead reported Akhter to the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit.

The ICC stated that Akhter's admission of guilt meant "there was no need for a formal disciplinary procedure or hearing," and considered "a five-year ban to be reasonable and appropriate."

Akhter has not played for Bangladesh since 2022. During the ban, she will be unable to participate in matches approved by the ICC or any other national cricket association, nor can she act as a coach, referee, or otherwise be involved.