Asad Rauf was withdrawn from next month's Champions Trophy in England amid media reports that he is under police investigation for spot-fixing. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf Wednesday denied spot-fixing allegations levelled against him during the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, saying he was ready to face any inquiry.
Rauf, a serving elite-level international umpire, was withdrawn by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from next month's Champions Trophy in England after media reports that he was under police investigation.
"I vehemently deny allegations of match-fixing, spot-fixing, taking gifts (from bookmakers) and any illegal money," Rauf, 57, said in his first public statement since returning from India after the story broke last week.
"I am ready to face any in quiry if the ICC's anti-corruption unit wants to conduct any."
The investigations started on May 16 when Delhi police arrested three cricketers, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during the lucrative IPL tournament in India.
Indian media alleged Rauf was in contact with Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh, arrested on charges of acting as middleman between bookies, players and officials.
COMMENTS (6)
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Folks. Lets stop this guilt by association and lets not fall into the tabloid media trap. I'm withholding judgement - the man is pretty open and the Mumbai police have not filed any charges against him. The model in question has retracted her statement.
Didnt he also deny promising marriage to a model?
Asad Rauf, unfortunately happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing a right thing i.e. Umpiring. He came back to Pakistan because he was withdrawn as Umpire and he would have been asked to bear the costs of his further stay. He did the right thing.
@Feroz:
He didnt ran away. He was taken off by ICC itself. Talk before you have full info regarding it
Till the verdict is out, there is no point of blaming any individual. How comes an empire is expelled from champions trophy panel based on allegation from Indian Media???
Why did he abruptly run away from the IPL without informing ICC or BCCI ? Did he know something or have reasons for apprehension ?