Asad Rauf. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has withdrawn Pakistani Umpire Asad Rauf from being a part of the panel in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Rauf came under the radar of the Mumbai police’s investigations into the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, according to the Times of India newspaper.
ICC said the decision was taken in the best interest of the umpire.
“In the wake of reports that the Mumbai Police are conducting an investigation into Asad Rauf’s activities, we feel that it is in Asad’s best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the ICC Champions Trophy,” said ICC Chief Executive David Richardson in a statement.
A number of bookies, a Bollywood actor and three Indian cricketers have been detained and interrogated by the Indian police probing the scandal that has rocked the multi-billion dollar Twenty20 cricket extravaganza.
The Times of India report stated the crime branch of Mumbai police was probing the activities of the umpire in all the matches he was part of and was keeping his movements under watch.
Asad Rauf was one of the umpires who officiated the controversial match in which the three arrested Rajasthan Royals cricketers – S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan – allegedly indulged in spot-fixing, in a match against Mumbai Indians on May 15 in Mumbai.
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@M: ICC ruled out the asad rauf from the champions trophy because he was part of that tournament. ICC did not act upon the cricketers now because they were not part of the champions trophy. And umpires always comes under ICC whereas players and coaches comes under respected nations' cricket boards. ICC comes into picture where national cricket boards do not give justifiable punishment to the culprit.If BCCI will not act against these three cricketers then ICC will have to come into picture but for now ICC can not and should not use their power. But i am sure BCCI will ban all the three players because of the huge pressure on them to keep the cricket clean and no one want to dirty their hands by shielding this trio or anyother player that might come in circle of doubt.
@dr ajmal:
"I appreciate the way, law is in action in india."
I am sure you are being sarcastic here
I wnt say Pakistanis are angels, but a fair investigation shd be conducted and all involved be punished. I appreciate the way, law is in action in india.
Dont you guys know already? ICC is owned by BCCI.
All a freakin joke!
@Cricketian A world of cricket without BCCI would be cricket-less!
Though am an Indian I suspect ICC's action in this case. I always felt Asad Rauf a neutral umpire and above any bias.
Whole of India is involved in this gambling...even Manmohan Singh...serious investigation is required.
I am not surprised. Asad Rauf has had an interesting personal life:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/422372/i-want-asad-rauf-to-fulfill-all-his-promises-leena-kapoor/
@Shah (Berlin)
ICC...has gone out of their minds...!!!
You may not know, but PCB is a member of ICC.
@M: the contracts of the tainted players with BCCI stands dismissed..they are no longer a part of international cricket fraternity.
Pakistan is being deliberately dragged in the issue...
Khud tou doobain gay sanam, hum tum ko bhi lay doobain gay. A world of cricket without BCCI would be so much nicer.
Guilt by association is not very pretty. It does smell of bigotry, but it's not like Pakistan's hands are totally clean,despite all the comments.
What can the ICC do? Play Rauf?
finally ICC spoke but not against the BCCI and players who caught, but against the umpire who is not even accused or arrested, pure hypocrisy.
@ Amir Jan
Nobody walks on water here. Let the axe fall wherever the criminal investigation points its finger.
If we really want to clean up cricket, everyone needs to cooperate not just to root out this cancer but set an example going forward as well. Please don't be blinded by nationalism.
ICC...has gone out of their minds...!!!
@amir jan ..is it necessary to bring in India-Pakistan everywhere.The investigation is not headed by ISI or RAW.Let cricket be clean.
ICC sucks big time!!!!!!
And what about Dharmasena and RJ Tucker? They were the other umpires officiating the other two matches. No suspension from them? ICC acts on media reports published in the Indian media and at the same time does not suspend the players who are allegedly involved in spot fixing. If ICC is not acting against the players as it was a domestic tournament, then why the double standards towards a Pakistani umpire? Somehow Pakistan had to be dragged into this controversy, and this is the most unfortunate way.
This is outrageous and smacks of racism and bigotry. While Indians are always bent upon dragging Pakistan's name in the mud ICC has no business being part of it. Stop this nonsense. I think Asad Rauf and PCB should sue ICC.