/ 29 May 2013

Asad Rauf denies spot-fixing allegations

Umpires Steve Smith
Umpires Steve Smith

Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf has denied spot-fixing allegations levelled against him during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition, saying he was ready to face any inquiry.

Rauf, a serving elite-level international umpire, was withdrawn by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from next month's Champions Trophy in England after media reports that he was under police investigation.

"I vehemently deny allegations of match-fixing, spot-fixing, taking gifts [from bookmakers] and any illegal money," the 57-year-old said in his first public statement since returning from India after the story broke last week.

"I am ready to face any inquiry if the ICC's anti-corruption unit wants to conduct any."

The investigations started on May 16 when Delhi police arrested three cricketers, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during the lucrative IPL tournament in India.

Indian media alleged Rauf was in contact with Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh, arrested on charges of acting as a middleman between bookies, players and officials.

Demand for chief’s resignation
India's sports ministry has demanded Indian cricket chief Narainswamy Srinivasan resign "on moral grounds" amidst the ongoing spot-fixing scandal.

Members of Srinivasan's board of control for cricket in India also want him to distance himself from the investigation.

The sports ministry said on Wednesday that Srinivasan should resign because his son-in-law, Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, was among those arrested in the alleged spot-fixing scandal in the IPL.

Srinivasan, managing director of India Cements, which owns the Chennai team, has said previously he was not involved in the scandal and will not resign. – AFP