BCB to have 'mobile court' in stadiums to curb illegal betting

In a much-needed step to curb illegal betting inside cricket stadiums, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is all prepared up to introduce ‘mobile court’ to prevent any malpractice in the gallery during the upcoming tri-nation series at home. In the recently-concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) the board had taken measures to curb illegal betting which saw the police conduct several raids during live games. More than two hundred gamblers were spotted and were eventually thrown out of the stadiums.

However, this is not the first time the officials have raided the stadiums. In 2015, at least four suspected bookies were thrown out of cricket stadiums. Last year, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission blocked 12 betting websites to stop gambling.

The BCB decided on the initiative during the inter-ministerial meeting ahead of the upcoming tri-nation, involving Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka which will be followed with a series against the Islanders. The tri-series is slated to begin from January 15 at Dhaka before Bangladesh and Sri Lanka play a two-match Test series and two Twenty20 Internationals.

BCB President issues strong statement

Nizamuddin Chowdhury, BCB chief executive, in a strong statement emphasized that illegal betting is set to be minimised in the coming days as the board is determined to reduce the illegal activity as much as possible.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Nizamuddin said, “We are taking some extra precaution [against preventing gambling and betting at venue] and had completed the required formalities regarding implementing it with concerned authorities.

He added, “In the inter-ministerial co-ordination meeting for the upcoming international matches at home.”

Talking about the mobile court, he stated, “There is a plan of setting up mobile court in the venue by the government as it was decided that provision of implementing ‘magistracy power’ will be introduced during the series.”