'IPL spot-fixing tainted' Pak umpire Rauf 'will fight to clear name', says family

Controversial Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf will fight to clear his name after he was called for questioning in the ongoing spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League, according to family sources.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) this week withdrew Rauf from next month's Champions Trophy in England in the wake of media reports that he was under police investigation, Sport24 reports.

Stating that he returned to his home in Lahore a few days ago, a family source said that the umpire will fight to clear his name, adding that he has nothing to hide and has returned to Lahore after completing his matches in the IPL.

The source further said that although Rauf is disappointed that he was not given a chance to clear his name and was excluded from the Champions Trophy, he will resume his career in cricket once his name is cleared.

The source also added that Rauf will speak at an appropriate code as he is bound by the ICC code of conduct.

Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has distanced itself from Rauf's case, saying the event was held in India and Rauf was officiating as an ICC umpire, PCB chairperson Mohammad Zaka Ashraf said that action would be taken against the umpire if the ICC asks for any such step.

According to the report, Rauf, who has overseen 48 Tests and 98 one-day internationals, was one of the umpires during the IPL at the centre of the corruption probe.

The scandal broke last week when Delhi police arrested three cricketers, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during the ongoing Twenty20 league in India, the report added.