Asraful banned for eight years for match fixing

Dhaka, June 19 (IANS) Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has been banned for eight years (three years suspended) for his involvement in match and spot-fixing in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The BPL anti-corruption tribunal also banned Dhaka Gladiators' managing director Shihab Chowdhury for ten years (three years suspended) for fixing, former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent for three years and Sri Lanka batsman Kushal Lokuarachchi for 18 months for failing to report that he was approached by bookies.

Vincent had admitted in February to not reporting that he was approached by a bookie.

Justice Khademul Islam, the convenor of the three-member probe committee, Wednesday read out the sentences, reports espncricinfo.

Earlier, Islam had read out his findings and the quantum of punishment to the defendants.

Ashraful arrived in Dhaka from New York earlier in the day to hear the punishment.

Khademul was flanked by former cricketer Shakil Kasem and Ajmalul Hossain QC, the other two committee members of the tribunal which conducted the probe since November 24 last year.

"On account of four charges Mohammad Ashraful has been banned for eight years," Khademul said.

"He will not be able to take part in any authorised cricketing activities anywhere in the world. In his sentence, five years is minimum and after completion of five years, he will have suspended sentence of three years which will be absolved if he takes part in any authorised anti-corruption education or rehabilitation programme under ICC, BCB or ACC during the eight years.

"His suspension began the day he pleaded guilty, which was in May last year. The first charge was fixing four matches, out of which he has been found to be involved in two. The second charge is in regards to the Chittagong match; for this he has to pay Tk 10 lakh to BCB in accordance to article 6.3.3 of the BCB's anti-corruption code. Since all charges are concurrent, he will suffer for eight years."

Khademul did not expand on the other two charges against Ashraful, but added that his confession and guilty plea were taken into consideration when the punishment was decided.

"We have taken into account the fact that the accused had confessed and pleaded guilty; the punishment ranges from five years to a life ban."

Chowdhury has been charged on article 6.2 and 6.5, which means he cannot participate in any cricketing activities. He also has been fined Tk 20 lakh, to be paid to the BCB. He has been found guilty of being party to fixing the Chittagong match held on February 2, 2013. This decision was first announced on February 26 this year, when the tribunal released the interim verdict.

Vincent too was charged under the same articles as Chowdhury, while Lokuarachchi was charged under article 2.4.2.

"The tribunal imposes ineligibility for 18 months on Kaushal Lokuarachchi," Khademul said.

"There was one charge against him, and that is his failure to report a corrupted approach. Someone had asked him if he wants to fix match, and he didn't report it. He has been found guilty under article 2.4.2 of the BCB's code.

"Lou Vincent, the New Zealand cricketer, has been punished with a three-year ban. He has been found guilty under article 6.2 and 6.5,"

All the four now have 21 days to appeal to Sheikh Sohel, BCB's disciplinary committee chairman.