Bangladesh Women’s Cricketer Soheli Akter Banned for Match-Fixing

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned Bangladesh women’s team cricketer Soheli Akter for five years due to match-fixing violations. 

In a statement released on Wednesday, the ICC announced that Soheli accepted the charges and the punishment, effectively barring her from all forms of cricket.

Soheli was found guilty of breaching five anti-corruption regulations, including conspiring to manipulate match outcomes, underperforming deliberately in international matches, and engaging in agreements that compromised the integrity of the game. 

She also admitted to accepting, soliciting, or offering benefits related to fixing and attempting to influence match results indirectly.

Additionally, Soheli failed to report corrupt approaches and was accused of delaying investigations and attempting to destroy evidence.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has acknowledged the ICC's decision and confirmed its implementation.

Soheli, a 36-year-old off-spinner, last played for Bangladesh in the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup, marking her return to the national team after an eight-year gap. Having debuted in 2013, she has represented Bangladesh in two ODIs and 13 T20Is.

According to the ICC, her five-year ban officially commenced on February 10, 2025.