Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf has been banned for a five year period by the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) on charges of ‘corruption and misconduct’.
Rauf, who was recognised as one of the top umpires in the world alongside compatriot Aleem Dar, will be barred from umpiring or being associated with any BCCI-related activities. It is unclear whether the ban would also be applicable in the international arena.
The Pakistani umpire was accused of involvement in a match-fixing controversy engulfing the megabucks Indian Premier League (IPL) competition and the International Cricket Council pulled him from the 2013 Champions Trophy amid reports he was under police investigation.
Media in India alleged Rauf had been in contact with Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa, arrested on charges of acting as middleman between bookies, players and officials, but the umpire insisted he was innocent.
But a BCCI disciplinary committee, formed to investigate the case, finally announced its judgment on Friday, finding Rauf guilty of corruption under articles 2.2.2, 2.3.2, 2.3.3 and 2.4.1 of the board’s Anti-corruption Code.
The 59-year-old umpire did not appear before the committee but sent his preliminary statement on January 15 and a written statement responding to the allegations on February 8 and these were considered before a final judgement was handed out.
Rauf included in the Elite Panel in 2006 after making his debut in 2000 and has officiated in 49 Tests, 98 ODIs and 23 T20 internationals.
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