BCB: Nothing significant found against Santokie

Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit has not uncovered anything significant from the hearing with West Indies left-arm pacer Krishmar Santokie.

Sylhet Thunder’s Santokie was interrogated by the ACU for his wayward wide delivery and dubious no-ball in the opening game of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20.

Following the hearing, the ACU submitted a report to the board.

BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury informed the media that nothing notable has been mentioned in the report.

“They [ACU] investigate when doubts are evident. Nothing has been mentioned to us, maybe because they could not find anything. They thought of investigating this after seeing on the social and mainstream media. They usually inform us if they get strong evidence,” said Nizamuddin to the media Saturday.

Tanjil backtracks on Santokie allegations https://t.co/KBZXXN2MJi

— DhakaTribune (@DhakaTribune) December 16, 2019

Santokie had grabbed the headlines through the awkward deliveries on December 11 at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka against Chattogram Challengers. 

Santokie had bowled a huge wide in his third delivery and a no-ball two balls later, raising eyebrows around the globe.

Saturday, BCB director and the chairman of media and communications committee Jalal Younus had revealed that Santokie attended a long hearing session with the ACU.

“Santokie had a long interrogation by the ACU members. They are looking deeply into his track record. It’s not that the board is sitting idle without doing anything in this regard,” informed Jalal.    

“ACU was particularly focused on knowing about his background. You need to know well about it while dealing with such cases. They have probably submitted a report to the board, though I am not sure about their recommendation that is placed in the report,” he added.

Despite severe doubts over Santokie, the team management decided to stick with the 35-year old left-arm pacer, who has represented the Windies in T20Is. 

Sloppy #umpiring creates controversy in #BBPL https://t.co/RQvxAop8Y4

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 23, 2019

Santokie so far in the BBPL has played six games and picked up seven wickets for Sylhet, who are struggling at the bottom half of the seven-team points table.

Following Santokie’s controversial deliveries, Sylhet team director Tanjil Chowdhury had rocked the fraternity as he revealed high doubts regarding the paceman, and also team sponsor Jivani Footwear Company. 

Tanjil in his statement to the media informed that he had requested the BCB to investigate Santokie’s wide and no-ball, and that he had concerns if the sponsor was manipulating the team management’s decisions over the playing XI.

However, a few days later, BCB director Tanjil took to his social media account and toned down on his allegations against Santokie and the Sylhet sponsor. 

Tanjil is one of the seven team directors in the BBPL appointed by the BCB.