Ashraful admits involvement in match-fixing
Ex-captain suspended by Bangladesh Cricket Board amid probe.
Ashraful, who became Bagladesh’s youngest Test centurion in 2001 at the age of 17 and captained Bangladesh between 2007 and 2009, admitted involvement in fixing. PHOTO: AFP
DHAKA:
Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful admitted match-fixing and apologised for the latest damaging scandal to hit the sport.
“I should have not done this injustice to the nation. I feel guilty,” he told the Independent TV channel in a televised interview. “I would only say ‘Please all forgive me, my conduct was improper’.”
His apology came shortly after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan announced the right-handed batsman had been suspended pending the full report of an investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has been probing allegations of match-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), a Twenty20 competition.
“As Ashraful has confessed his involvement in fixing to the ACSU team, so he should not be allowed to play any level of cricket until we get a full report of the investigation,” Hassan told reporters.
“I have spoken with Ashraful, he told me that he has confessed everything to the ASCU,” said Hassan, although he added that the batsman had not disclosed details of his confession to him.
Hassan made yesterday’s announcement during a meeting of the BCB in the capital Dhaka called to deal with the allegations, which have been widely reported in local media.
The alleged fixing involves a match between the Dhaka Gladiators and the Chittagong Kings teams during the second edition of the BPL.
Local media have reported that 28-year-old Gladiators star Ashraful was allegedly paid about one million taka ($12,800) to lose the February 2 match.
The batsman was also allegedly involved in fixing another match 10 days later against the Barisal Burners, which his team lost by seven wickets, reports have said.
Ashraful, however, assured he told the truth to the ASCU.
“I felt that I have done an injustice, so I have told them (the ACSU team) the truth at the first chance. I tried to help the ICC as much as I could for the welfare of our cricket,” said Ashraful.
“You all know me, I have been playing international cricket for 12 years. I did not tell them a single lie.”
During the ACSU’s probe into the BPL, the officials discovered allegations of fixing during some international matches as well, Hassan said, prompting a wider probe.
“This is no more limited to the BPL. The ICC itself will launch a full-fledged massive investigation into those allegations,” said Hassan, without giving details.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2013.
Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful admitted match-fixing and apologised for the latest damaging scandal to hit the sport.
“I should have not done this injustice to the nation. I feel guilty,” he told the Independent TV channel in a televised interview. “I would only say ‘Please all forgive me, my conduct was improper’.”
His apology came shortly after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan announced the right-handed batsman had been suspended pending the full report of an investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has been probing allegations of match-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), a Twenty20 competition.
“As Ashraful has confessed his involvement in fixing to the ACSU team, so he should not be allowed to play any level of cricket until we get a full report of the investigation,” Hassan told reporters.
“I have spoken with Ashraful, he told me that he has confessed everything to the ASCU,” said Hassan, although he added that the batsman had not disclosed details of his confession to him.
Hassan made yesterday’s announcement during a meeting of the BCB in the capital Dhaka called to deal with the allegations, which have been widely reported in local media.
The alleged fixing involves a match between the Dhaka Gladiators and the Chittagong Kings teams during the second edition of the BPL.
Local media have reported that 28-year-old Gladiators star Ashraful was allegedly paid about one million taka ($12,800) to lose the February 2 match.
The batsman was also allegedly involved in fixing another match 10 days later against the Barisal Burners, which his team lost by seven wickets, reports have said.
Ashraful, however, assured he told the truth to the ASCU.
“I felt that I have done an injustice, so I have told them (the ACSU team) the truth at the first chance. I tried to help the ICC as much as I could for the welfare of our cricket,” said Ashraful.
“You all know me, I have been playing international cricket for 12 years. I did not tell them a single lie.”
During the ACSU’s probe into the BPL, the officials discovered allegations of fixing during some international matches as well, Hassan said, prompting a wider probe.
“This is no more limited to the BPL. The ICC itself will launch a full-fledged massive investigation into those allegations,” said Hassan, without giving details.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2013.