Asad Rauf. PHOTO: FILE
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has removed Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf from the elite panel for next month’s Champions Trophy in England and Wales following media reports of his alleged involvement in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal.
According to a Times of India report, Rauf had come under suspicion in the IPL spot-fixing case. It stated that the investigators probing the scandal were scrutinising the umpire’s activity in all IPL matches he was a part of.
Reacting within hours to the report, the ICC withdrew Rauf from the list of umpires’ who will officiate the matches of the Champions Trophy.
“In the wake of reports that the Mumbai police are conducting an investigation into Asad Rauf’s activities, we feel that it is in his best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself that he is withdrawn from the ICC Champions Trophy,” said ICC Chief Executive David Richardson in a statement.
‘Not a PCB issue’
While the Pakistan Cricket Board did not issue a statement till the filing of this report, a senior board official called it a matter between the ICC and IPL organisers.
“Rauf is an ICC umpire and went for IPL on their recommendation,” the official told The Express Tribune, adding, “It’s not a matter linked to the PCB as ICC umpires do not come under our domain.”
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail said the board must ask the ICC to show concrete evidence against the umpire.
“If action against the umpire is taken based on mere reports or speculation, then all ICC officials currently associated with IPL must be withdrawn from the Champions Trophy,” he maintained.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2013.
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