Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf banned for five years by BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that it has imposed a five-year ban on former international umpire Asad Rauf. In a media release issued by the Indian cricket board today, it was announced that Rauf is “banned for a period of five years from umpiring or playing or representing cricket in any form or any way being associated with the activities of the Board and its Affiliates.”

The Disciplinary Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) met today 12th February 2016 at the Cricket Centre, Mumbai.

“Mr Asad Rauf did not appear before the Committee but had sent his preliminary submissions on 15th January 2016 and written statement on 8th February 2016,” BCCI said in a statement.

“The Committee after considering the report of the Commissioner of Enquiry and the written statement of Mr Asad Rauf has arrived at the conclusion that Mr. Asad Rauf is guilty of misconduct and corruption within the meaning of Article 2.2.2, 2.3.2, 2.3.3 and 2.4.1 of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code.”

“Mr Asad Rauf has been banned for a period of five years from umpiring or playing or representing cricket in any form or anyway being associated with the activities of the Board and its Affiliates,” it added.

Rauf was accused of taking expensive gifts from bookies and had also allegedly placed bets on IPL matches in 2013. Ever since the scandal broke out, Rauf has denied all the allegations levelled against him and has not travelled to India to present his case. Pakistan and the International Cricket Council (ICC) even dropped Rauf from their respective lists of elite umpires.

Last month, the Indian cricket board had deferred announcement of their decision on Rauf, as the Pakistani umpire had requested for more time to prepare his defence against the allegations of his involvement in the embarrassing IPL 2013 spot-fixing and betting scandal.