Dhaka: Observing that there is no particular set of rules to investigate graft allegations in cricket, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Tuesday urged the authorities concerned to appoint an ombudsman for cricket, aiming to cut corruption and irregularities in the popular game.

Citing the findings of Global Corruption Report-Sport 2016 of Berlin-based Transparency International (TIB), its local chapter’s executive director Iftekharuzzaman said an independent Office of Ombudsman for Cricket should be set up with power to investigate and prosecute allegations and irregularities in the game.

Making his power-point presentation on the report focusing Bangladesh’ s sports at a press conference at TIB office in the capital, Iftekharuzzaman said the ombudsman for cricket, appointed by the government, will be an institution, not an individual.

About governance in Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), he said the board’ s corporate structure is ambiguous while it is neither a corporate body (like International Cricket Council), nor a registered society like India and nor a statuary body (Pakistan).

The TIB executive director said there is no specific and formal mechanism to ensure BCB accountability while it operates on its own having practically no relationship with the Ministry of Youths and Sports, the National Sports Council of Bangladesh or the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry.

Although BCB operates on its own, he said, the board is practically subjected to the government and partisan political influence, especially in terms of choice of leadership, including election of board president and members.

About commercialism of cricket, Iftekharuzzaman said once cricket used to be called as a gentlemen’s game, but now it become a game of businessmen.

Keeping pace with global and regional trends, he said franchisee-based Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) introduced in 2012 without proper policy and rules also become a huge money-making mechanism, marking the game vulnerable to corruption.

Highlighting the match-fixing scenario of cricket, Iftekharuzzaman stressed creating specific legal provisions to criminalise match-fixing, spot-fixing and other form of cheating and corruption.

The TIB emphasised strengthening Anti-Corruption Unit of BCB to address risks of corruption and undertaking specific programmes of education, information and communication for ethical enrichment of young cricketers at all levels.

The Global Corruption Report-Sport 2016 shows that sport is now a multi-billion dollar business (more than US$ 145 billion annually) engaging billions of people.

Corruption is nothing new in sports but the recent pervasiveness of poor governance and scandal threatens to undermine all the joy and hope that sport brings, the report says.

TIB deputy executive director Sumiya Khair and its director (Research) Mohammad Rafiqul Hasan were also present at the press conference.