Shoaib Malik's BPL contract terminated due to fixing? Cricketer, Fortune Barishal owner offer explanation

Pakistan cricket Shoaib Malik has released a strong-worded statement on social media amid news reports that the all-rounder’s contract with Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise Fortune Barishal was terminated midway due to allegations of “match-fixing”. As per a few reports, Fortune Barishal decided to terminate Malik’s contract after the Pakistan cricketer bowled three no balls in an over in a game against Khulna Tigers in a BPL match on 22 January and the team owner Mizanur Rahman casted match fixing aspersions on a private TV channel asking the Anti Corruption Unit to look into the incident.

3 no-balls and 18 runs in one over. Not the best outing this week for Shoaib Malik.
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.#BPL2024 #BPLonFanCode #ShoaibMalik pic.twitter.com/PNmHeOqgJq

— FanCode (@FanCode) January 23, 2024

Malik in his statement said that he had to leave Bangladesh due to media commitments and not because his contract was cancelled. “I would like to address and dismiss the recent rumors 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-committed media engagement in Dubai,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). The former Pakistan captain also urged the media to exercise “caution when it comes to rumors”.

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Malik’s post on X also carried a video in which Fortune Barishal owner Mizanur Rahman could be heard rejecting the media reports and saying that he has no complain against Malik. “There has been lot of talks and gossiping going on online regarding Shoaib Malik. This is wrong,” Rahman said in the video. “I have not given any information to the news channel or anyone else. In games, there can be wins and losses, that is a different story. Shoaib Malik played his level best. We have not complained to anyone and we haven’t even talked to him. A lot of media people called me today for this. I didn’t like it. I want to enforce this message that we don’t have any complain against Shoaib Malik. Please don’t make a big issue out of this.” As per a report in Cricbuzz, Mizanur Rahman spoke about Malik to Channel 24. When he was informed that Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Anti Corruption Unit was looking into the incident of Malik bowling three no balls in an over, Mizanur Rahman said: “It (ACU investigating Shoaib’s three no balls) 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.” Later in a video posted on Fortune Barishal’s Facebook page, the team owner changed his views and said that he “deeply protest” the match fixing allegations against Malik. “Last few days we are hearing 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 and so we don’t want to discuss about it any further,” Rahman said.

In an interview with Cricbuzz, Mizanur Rahman also cleared that Malik’s contract was not terminated because of match fixing allegations but due to the cricketer’s request for extended leave after which the franchise decided to replace him with Ahmed Shehzad. “Shoaib Malik was expected to stay with us till February 14 and after the last match he went to Dubai and later asked me whether he can come [back] on February 6, but our main games are after that [14th] so it won’t help if he comes on 6th and so I said ‘we don’t need you’. “But it had got nothing to do with all the things that is coming up in media like we terminated his contract due to match-fixing allegations,” he concluded. Shoaib Malik’s full statement “I would like to address and dismiss the recent rumors 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-committed media engagement in Dubai. “I extend my best wishes to Fortune Barishal for their upcoming matches, and if needed, I am available to support them if needs be. “I have always found joy in playing the game and will continue to do so. I want to emphasize the importance of exercising caution when it comes to rumors, especially those circulating recently. I want to make it clear that I strongly refute these baseless rumors. It’s crucial for everyone to verify information before believing and spreading it. Falsehoods can harm reputations and create unnecessary confusion. Let’s prioritize accuracy and rely on credible sources to ensure a clear understanding of the facts. Thank you for your understanding and diligence. “Thank you for your love & support as always.”