ICC elite panel umpire ‘runs a clothes’ shop after corruption allegations from the BCCI

The international cricket council recently updated the list of 11-members ICC elite panels list for the umpires. Nitin Menon, The marquee umpire was the only name from India on the updated list. He will officiate in different countries in the upcoming ICC cycle after the conclusion of covid restrictions.

The list includes 11 famous names across top cricket playing names – Aleem Dar from Pakistan, Chris Gaffaney from New Zealand, Kumara Dharmasena from Sri Lanka, Marais Erasmus from South Africa, Michael Gough, Richard Illingworth, and Richard Kettleborough (all three from England), Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker from Australia and Joel Wilson from the West Indies.

The story of Asad Rauf:

Asad Rauf, The umpire from Pakistan officiated in more than 170 international matches between 2000-2013. He was famously part of the International Cricket Council’s elite umpiring panel during the course. He officiated in multiple games of the Indian Premier League in the initial seasons.

However, Rauf was officially banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India after multiple corruption charges. He was accused of being involved in the famous match-fixing scandal of IPL 2013. He was also accused of sexual exploitation by a model from Mumbai resulting in the Indian board taking strict action against him.

Rauf now made the headlines after he was spotted running clothes and shoe shops in Pakistan. He has opened up on his side of the story during an interaction with local media. The Pakistani umpire has clarified that he has no plans to return to the game. He confessed that he has been completely detached from the game for almost a decade.

Here’s what Asad Rauf said:

“I have spent my best time in IPL, apart from these issues that came later on, I had nothing to do with these issues, the allegations came from the BCCI’s side and they took the decision on me themselves. (fixing allegations)”

“No, I’ve umpired so many games all my life, there’s no one left to see now. I haven’t been in touch with the game since 2013, because once I leave something I leave it completely.”