BCB appoints ex-ICC official Alex Marshall to its anti-corruption unit

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced three new appointments following its meeting in Dhaka on Saturday, August 9. Julian Wood, a specialist batting coach known for his power-hitting expertise and recent work with Sri Lanka Cricket, has been signed on for a three-month stint. Alex Marshall has been appointed as a consultant to the board’s anti-corruption department for a twelve-month term.

Previously, Marshall served as the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit General Manager until September last year. According to BCB’s Media Committee Chair Iftekhar Rahman, Marshall’s role will be to enhance the board’s anti-corruption operations. Rahman also confirmed that the BCB has appointed the ICC’s Integrity Unit to oversee anti-corruption efforts in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The BCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit is currently investigating corruption allegations related to the 2024-25 season of both the BPL and the Dhaka Premier League. Additionally, Tony Hemming has returned to the BCB as a curator after recently resigning from his role as head curator at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Notably, he had served as BCB curator previously between July 2023 and 2024 before moving to his role in Pakistan.

Hemming’s reappointment raised questions about the future of Gamini Silva, the curator at Shere Bangla National Stadium. Rahman clarified that Silva has been granted a one-year extension and will continue in his role.

"Tony Hemming has been appointed head of turf management for two years. All our international venues and curators will be under him. He will also undertake the process of training Bangladeshi curators. All the board directors had a lot of interest in bringing him back,” Rahman said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"Hemming is one of the best curators in the world. Maybe he had a good experience with the BCB in the previous occasion, that's why he agreed to come back. The turf management will run as Hemming will want. Time will tell if Gamini will stay or not. He has been given a 12-month extension,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BCB has introduced Mymensingh as the newest first-class team, replacing Dhaka Metropolis, which had been part of the competition since 2011 to maintain an even number of teams.

"Mymensingh is one of the country's newest divisions. They will play in the NCL first-class tournament from the coming season. They will replace Dhaka Metropolis. Mymensingh will play all divisional tournaments though we can't accommodate them in the upcoming NCL T20s as the schedule has been made. Mymensingh will play in the T20 tournament from the next edition,” said Rahman.