DHAKA: The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) tribunal`s verdicts into alleged match-fixing and spot-fixing will be read out on February 26 and 27. Both sides will give final arguments for two weeks after the hearing ends on Thursday. The BCB will announce the verdicts.

The full hearing began on January 19 from which time all nine accused have appeared at the tribunal building in Gulshan, Dhaka. Darren Stevens appeared on the first day while in the subsequent two weeks, Mohammad Ashraful and Mosharraf Hossain, among others, also appeared.

Sanctions will be announced according to article 6 of the Bangladesh Cricket Board`s anti-corruption code.

The hearing is the only period for the charged individuals to defend themselves, as the tribunal will give their verdicts based on these proceedings. Seven out of the nine individuals are charged directly with match-fixing and spot-fixing allegations, while two others have been charged for failing to report a corrupt approach.

The investigation into the allegations of spot-fixing and match-fixing first came to light in May 2013, when BCB president Nazmul Hassan confirmed that a Bangladesh player had been questioned by the ICC. Ashraful was the first to admit of his involvement in corruption back in June last year. This was followed by formal charges against nine individuals in August last year, including six Dhaka Gladiators` players. Darren Stevens, Mosharraf Hossain and Mahbubul Alam confirmed that they had been charged by the ICC, which is coordinating with the BCB to conduct the tribunal.

In spite of a confession, the ICC did not charge Ashraful and the player had said he expected leniency for his admission.

Source: Espncricinfo.com
BDST: 0955 HRS, FEB 04, 2014