BCCI bans Pakistani umpire Rauf for five years

Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf was on Friday banned for five years by the BCCI from officiating all cricket tournaments and matches in India after its disciplinary committee found him guilty of misconduct and corruption.

Rauf, who was part of the International Cricket Council's elite panel and officiated in Test matches, was accused of accepting expensive gifts from bookies besides placing bets on Indian Premier League matches during the 2013 edition.

"The disciplinary committee of the BCCI met today (Friday) at the BCCI headquarters, Cricket Centre, Mumbai. Asad Rauf did not appear before the committee but had sent his preliminary submissions on 15th January 2016 and written statement on 8th February 2016," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

"The committee after considering the report of the Commissioner of Enquiry and the written statement of Asad Rauf has arrived at the conclusion that Asad Rauf is guilty of misconduct and corruption within the meaning of Article 2.2.2, 2.3.2, 2.3.3 and 2.4.1 of the BCCI anti-corruption code," the statement added.

The statement further read, "Asad Rauf has been banned for a period of five years from umpiring or playing or representing cricket in any form or anyway being associated with the activities of the board and its affiliates."