The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said it can’t force umpire Asad Rauf to go to Mumbai to be questioned in the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting and spot-fixing scandal.
Rauf was named as a ‘wanted accused’ in the charge-sheet filed by the Mumbai Police on Saturday.
PCB legal advisor, Tafazzul Rizvi, said that as there is no extradition treaty between Pakistan and India, there is no mechanism available to ‘convince’ Rauf to face the charges in person.
“One thing is clear that he is a retired umpire and this is a matter between him and the Mumbai police and the IPL and International Cricket Council. The PCB is not a party to this,” Rizvi said.
However, Rizvi added that a solution to the problem would be to record Rauf’s statement in Pakistan, if required.
Soon after Rauf’s name cropped up in the IPL 2013 corruption scandal in May this year, the 57-year-old immediately left for Pakistan and was dropped by the ICC for the Champions Trophy in June.
The umpire is alleged to have placed bets through bookies on certain IPL matches he officiated and in return received ‘gifts’, including jewelry and clothing.
Rauf however has vehemently denied all accusations against him and has repeatedly claimed his innocence. He had earlier stated that he was dropped from the ICC’s elite panel of umpires because his contract was over.
Rauf also said he would explain his stand to ICC’s Anti-corruption Unit. “I have been an employee of ICC. The ICC has its own anti-corruption unit. Like police they also investigate. When they call me, I will answer them through my legal advisor. I have done five IPLs and my decisions have been 100 per cent correct. I will answer to ICC regarding these allegations,” Rauf said.
