BPL MATCH, SPOT FIXING Ashraful ‘kept away’ from cricket ACSU probe report in 5/6 days

Mohammad Ashraful. Photo: Reuters

Mohammad Ashraful.

Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to “keep away” Mohammad Ashraful from all cricketing activities pending a probe into the alleged match and spot fixing in Bangladesh Premier League.

The anti-corruption and security unit (Acsu) of the International Cricket Council will publish its report on spot and match fixing in Bangladesh Premier League matches in 5/6 days.

“Though Acsu has said it would reveal its probe report within 5/6 days, I assume it won’t take more than seven days at the latest,” BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said at a press conference at BCB office in Mirpur Tuesday.

‘No one (found guilty) will be spared,’ BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon insisted at a press conference at BCB office in Mirpur Tuesday. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Referring to his meeting with the Acsu delegation Sunday, Papon said the investigators were just one interview away, scheduled to be conducted outside the country Monday, from finishing their probe into the scandalous offence dogging the country’s most popular sport.

However, the report might be delayed by a couple of days if new information is unearthed during the interview, added the BCB chief.

The Acsu team shared only a portion of their findings with him, the BCB head said, declining to reveal that to journalist citing legal bars.

“We should not draw any conclusion before we get the full probe report at hand.”

Before the report is published, which will be done by a joint delegation of ICC and BCB, the board shall not publicly identify any player or players’ support personnel who have been alleged to have committed an offence under the anti-corruption code “unless and until it has been determined in a hearing in accordance with Article 5 that an offence has been committed.”

Severe punishment awaits anyone found guilty by the Acsu investigation, the firm BCB boss said. “No one will be spared.”

Replying to a query, he said the Acsu report will focus more on the BPL matches, while ICC will conduct a more detailed investigation into international matches marred by match and spot fixing allegations.

“The ICC has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to dealing with corruption in the game, and we will maintain the same standard,” Papon insisted.

Source: The Daily Star