Pakistani umpire Rauf banned for five years

The 59-year-old Rauf, who was part of the ICC’s elite panel and officiated in Test matches, was accused of accepting expensive gifts from bookies besides placing bets on IPL matches in the 2013 edition. 

After a decision on his fate was deferred for several weeks, the committee, headed by BCCI president Shashank Manohar and comprising Jyotiraditya Scindia and Niranjan Shah, finally announced the ban on him on Friday. 

Rauf had been withdrawn by Pakistan from the ICC’s elite panel after the allegations against him broke out. “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,” the BCCI said in a statement after the meeting. 

“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,” it added. 

He has been found guilty of ‘‘inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging, facilitating or authorising any other party to enter into a bet for the direct or indirect benefit of the participant.’’