Noakhali Express assistant coach Niaz Khan under BCB probe

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam said on Wednesday that a member of Noakhali Express team management is under the radar of the BCB's Integrity Unit.

The announcement came following a report in local English newspaper Daily Sun on December 31 where questions were raised regarding the identity of Noakhali Express assistant coach Niaz Khan.

According to the news, Niaz claimed that he worked with the Afghanistan national cricket team in the Asia Cup, though ACB officials flatly denied the claim when their attention was drawn to the fact for verification.

"They (BCB integrity Unit) is well aware about the development (regarding the news of Noakhali Express assistant coach) and working on it," Aminul Islam told Cricbuzz on Wednesday. "Its confidential so I cannot disclose much but they (BCB integrity Unit) is well aware about this (regarding the movement of Niaz)," he said.

Mahin M Rahman, counsel to the BCB's Integrity Unit and head of its legal team, confirmed to this website that Niaz is under ongoing investigation.

"I got confirmation from my head (Alex Marshall) that this (movement of Niaz) is already under a live investigation," said Mahin adding that he is well aware Niaz worked with Dhaka Capitals during the previous season.

"Yes, I know that (Niaz was with Dhaka Capitals) and there are some more connections here as well," he said without elaborating further.

BCB official confirmation came hours after BPL Governing Council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman told reporters at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium that they are not ready to compromise on integrity issues.

"We take every issue very seriously," he said. "That is why we have put pressure on teams on two clear points as player payments must be made and that integrity must be maintained," said Iftekhar.

"Because of that zero tolerance, you are seeing things like teams withdrawing even after being awarded a franchise. That has been painful for us," he said adding that they are leaving no stone unturned to see BPL is completed without any criticism of fixing, a permanent fixture etched with each edition of the tournament.

"We have an independent committee headed by Alex Marshall and Instructions have gone from us to many teams that certain people cannot stay with the team," he said.

It remains to be seen how the BCB will deal with Niaz, who happens to be topic of discussion in Sylhet.