PCB plan to frame rules to keep check on umpires

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday said it will soon introduce new rules to bring Pakistani umpires under its “domain” in the wake of ICC’s decision to withdraw Asad Rauf from the Champions Trophy following his questioning in connection with the spot-fixing scandal in IPL.

Addressing a hurriedlu called press conference, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, said he is not in the know-how about Rauf’s removal from the elite panel of umpires from next month’s Champions Trophy to be held in England.

“It [Rauf’s withdrawal] is not in our knowledge. He did not go to India [to officiate in IPL] with our permission. We are not involved in the umpires business in IPL.

“Till now Pakistani umpires and match referees are not in our (PCB’s) domain. But now we are going to have a Board meeting soon where we will bring in new rules to bring umpires from our country in our domain,” Ashraf said.

“As per the rules, the Pakistani umpires will have to sign a contract with the Board,” he added.

The spot-fixing saga in the ongoing IPL took a dramatic turn on Thursday with ICC withdrawing controversial Pakistani umpire Rauf from the panel of match officials for the Champions Trophy as his role in the scandal is being investigated by the Mumbai Police.

The ICC today issued a media release stating that Rauf had been removed from the elite panel of umpires of the June 6 to 21 tournament.

The PCB chief, however, said that the spot-fixing scandal in IPL, which is getting murkier day by day, is a wake up call for the BCCI.

“I don’t know why things are not tightened or managed in a proper way in IPL. All the mud-slinging is coming up in the IPL. It’s a wake up call for the organisers of IPL,” Ashraf said.

Rauf was also embroiled in a controversy in IPL 2012 when a small-time model named Leena Kapoor accused the Pakistani umpire of sexually exploiting her for months before refusing to marry her.

He further said tat all the cricket board should take measures to stem the menace of fixing from the game. “We are willing to support the cause and help eradicate the corruption from cricket,” he maintained.

Zaka said IPL does not fall in the PCB’s domain and the removal of Asad was done by the ICC so the PCB has nothing to do with the decision or comment in the spot-fixing in the IPL. But it is ready to help India in elimination of the menace from the game,” he added.