Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf has lashed out severely against the BCCI and the IPL after the board banned him from officiating for 5 years. Rauf was banned for his alleged role in the IPL 2013 corruption scandal and was also accused of heinous acts such as fixing. Rauf hit back at the BCCI by questioning their authority to announce a verdict regarding him.
“What authority does the BCCI or IPL have to ban me when the court in Mumbai told the police they had no evidence against me?” Rauf said. Rauf was alleged to have left India midway in the 2013 IPL, but he dismissed those claims as well. “The BCCI and IPL appointed an investigation commissioner and they claimed I fled from India without completing my IPL assignment which is not true. I completed all my assignments and left India, in fact, one day after my assignments ended,” he said.
“The court said Rauf earns more than 3 million rupees a month so accepting small gifts like jeans, t-shirts or caps is not a big issue. The BCCI and IPL appointed commissioner Ravi Sawani didn’t even bother to check when I left India and made accusations against me to the police,” said an annoyed Rauf to PTI.
“I told them that I would come with my lawyer but they insisted I should come alone, so I didn’t go. But I offered them to meet me in Karachi or Dubai and they declined. After which I sent them my detailed statement,” he claimed.”The BCCI or IPL is no authority to ban me. Even if the Pakistan Cricket Board is not willing to take up my case, I will do it myself through my lawyer,” Rauf concluded.