Asad Rauf, a former elite panel ICC umpire had a tragic end to his career back in 2013. Currently, the veteran owns a thrift shop that sells clothes and shoes at the Landa Bazaar in Lahore. The 66-year-old was previously alleged of accepting bribes from bookies along with placing bets during the Indian Premier League 2013.
Recently speaking to a Pakistan sports media tag, Asad Rauf has denied all accusations on him while adding that he carries a judge’s verdict as a form of evidence that states he is innocent.
Here is what the former umpire said, “The supposed incident occurred in 2013 and BCCI were asleep for three years. They opened up an inquiry in 2016 and it was a forced inquiry because there was no truth to it.”
Asad Rauf further added, “They failed to present any substantial proof against me and I still have the judge’s verdict which states that any proof or evidence against Asad’s case is missing in charge.”
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Disclosing his plans on retirement, he said that after 2013, the former umpire planned his resignation and had even informed the ICC. He also claimed that no one from ICC ever approached him pertaining to the controversy.
Asad Rauf again added, “I told ICC that I will be handing in my resignation after 2013. I am answerable to ICC and not to the BCCI; if the BCCI wanted to lodge a one-side case against me in India then that’s on them. Because as far as I am concerned, the ICC never took charge of the situation because there was no truth to these allegations to begin with.”
Currently, Rauf runs a thrift store and seems to be quite thrilled with it. He also owns an iron and metal business, which as he said, was initiated before he was an ICC umpire.
Commenting on the same, Asad Rauf said, “This work [Landa bazaar shop] is an old business of mine and had I not pursued becoming an umpire, I would have been doing this exact thing. Along with this, I also have an iron and metal business. I started all these things long before I decided to pursue umpiring.”
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In his successful career as an umpire in international cricket, Rauf featured in 49 tests, 98 ODIs and 23 T20Is. Before umpiring, he played in Pakistan’s domestic cricket circuit as right-handed batsman.
