At the height of his umpiring career, Pakistan’s Asad Rauf was considered one of the best players in the world. He was part of the ICC Elite Panel, it was a testament to his talent. However, after being accused of engaging in corrupt practices during IPL 2013 and a subsequent ban by the BCCI, Rauf’s career took a turn for the worse and in his own words, he has since completely lost touch with cricket.
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Accusations of sexual abuse by a model in 2012 had already tarnished his reputation, but the 66-year-old has now retired to a sober life and now owns a shop selling clothes and shoes in Lahore’s Landa Bazaar.
Rauf says that he is not running the shop to meet his daily expenses but for the employees.
“Bhai, ye mera kaam nahi hai, ye mere staff ki rozi lagi hui hai, ye mai unke liye krta hu (This isn’t my job, this is the daily wages of my staff, I work for them),” Rauf was quoted as saying by Indian Express,
“I have no greed. I have seen a lot of money, and I have seen the world with protocol. I have one son a special child. The other has just come back from America (USA) after completing his graduation. I was in the day I offer namaz five times. My wife offers namaz five times a day.”
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Rauf said that since he left the job of umpire, he no longer watches cricket.
,Maine 2013 ke baad cricket se bilkul he…..kyunki mai jo kaam chhodta hu usko chhod hi deta hu (I haven’t been in touch with the sport since 2013, because once I drop something I drop it completely),” he said.
Rauf continued to deny allegations that he had accepted gifts from bookies and that the BCCI had found him guilty of engaging in corrupt practices during the IPL 2013 spot-fixing scandal. The Cricket Board of India banned Rauf for five years in 2016 following an inquiry by its disciplinary committee.
“I have had my best time in IPL apart from these issues that came later,” Rauf said.
,Unse mera toh koi lena dena tha hi nahi, wo unhi (BCCI) ki taraf se aaye aur unhone hi decision le liye (I had nothing to do with these issues, the allegations came from the BCCI side and they themselves took the decision on me).’
,Ladki waala maamla jab aaya tha, toh mai to uske agle saal bhi IPL krwane gaya tha (Even after the girl’s allegations, I officiated in the IPL next season),” said Rauf.
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