(Cricket News) Strangely, the team owner Mizanur Rahman was quoted on a private TV channel asking the Anti-Corruption Unit to take notice after Malik bowled three balls without hitting a ball in his fourth over and gave up eighteen runs during their third match against Khulna Tigers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on January 22.
Fortune Barishal, a Bangladesh Premier League franchise, retracted the accusations of fixing made against their player Shoaib Malik on Friday, January 26.
After learning that the BCB’s ACU was looking into Shoaib’s three no-balls in one over, on January 25, Mizanur told Channel 24 that “it should be done.” “If it is done (ACU investigation), it would be good because three no balls in one over bowled by an off-spinner is looking really absurd to me and we lost the match there,” he said.
“Last few days we have heard a lot about Shoaib Malik. I deeply protest against it and he is a good player and he had given his best for our team so we do not want to discuss it anymore,” Mizanur said on the team’s Facebook page on Friday, putting an end to the fixing fire that he had ignited himself. When questioned about it, Mizanur said he was just sharing his views with the TV channel and expressed regret about the choice of words.
“I feel that I should not have spoken that way, but it is unfortunate that I was just sharing my thoughts with them and they telecasted it,” Malik said. He also refuted reports that the team had terminated Malik’s contract due to allegations of match-fixing, revealing that Malik had actually traveled to the United Arab Emirates following the team’s most recent game, but that the team had rejected his request for an extension of his leave, eventually replacing him with Ahmed Shehzad.
“Shoaib Malik was supposed to be with us until February 14; however, following the most recent game, he left for Dubai and asked to return on February 6. Since our main games are on February 14th, it would not help if he came on the 6th, so I told him ‘we do not need you.’ But it had nothing to do with everything that is coming up in the media like we terminated his contract due to match-fixing allegations,” Malik claimed in a statement.
“I want to address and dispel the recent rumors that have been circulating about my playing position with Fortune Barishal. I had a thorough discussion with our captain, Tamim Iqbal, and we mutually planned the way forward.
I had to leave Bangladesh for a pre-arranged media engagement in Dubai. I want to emphasize how important it is to be cautious when it comes to rumors, especially those that have been circulating recently.
I want to make it clear that I strongly refute these baseless rumors. Falsehoods can damage reputations and cause needless confusion. Let us prioritize accuracy and rely on reliable sources to ensure that everyone is aware of the facts,” Malik said in his statement.
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