Former national skipper Khaled Mahumd wants immediate investigation into the allegation made against him by Mohammad Ashraful that he had introduced the batsman to bookies in 2004.
The cricket arena was rocked after the scandal was leaked to the media that Ashraful had admitted to the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the ICC to fixing matches in the Bangladesh Premier League at the instruction of the Dhaka Gladiators team management.
But the impact of its severity doubled when it was reported in a Bengali daily newspaper that Mahmud, along with Mohammad Rafique and Khaled Mashud, had introduced Ashraful to an Indian bookie named Javed for spot-fixing in the Tigers’ 100th one-day international against India.
‘I want immediate investigation,’ Mahmud told reporters on Friday.
‘I am deeply hurt as it has severely damaged my social status,’ said Mahmud, who is also the coach of BPL franchise Chittagong Kings and Prime Bank in the Dhaka Premier League.
‘I am willing to accept any punishment if I am proved guilty,’ he added.
Though Bangladesh won, Ashraful placed his feet in the world of darkness through that match by accepting the offer of scoring 60 runs in the first 15 overs (the Tigers put on 61 in 15 overs) and received Tk 4.5 lakh for playing his part by scoring a 41-ball 28.
Later in 2009, Mahmud and Rafique introduced Ashraful to Sunil Bhatia for spot-fixing against India in a Test match for which he was paid Tk 7 lakh, though he returned the amount later as he was unable to do so after being dismissed.
Mahmud asked how he would introduce Ashraful to spot-fixers in 2004 as he was himself young then.
It was also reported in New Age that Ashraful confessed to the ACSU that he felt Mahmud was aware of the fixed match between Gladiators and Kings.
Mahmud said that he did not know anything about that match being fixed.
‘That was our do-or-die match and we were more concerned about our own team than others,’ added Mahmud.
Meanwhile, the match-fixing allegation against BPL champions Dhaka Gladiators was further ignited after Rafique, now one of the accused implicated another former cricketer Sanwar Hosssian in the scandal.
Rafique denied that he introduced Ashraful with bookie in the past but said the he sensed something wrong during this BPL.
‘I felt some of the matches were fixed though I was never part of it,’ Rafique told reporters.
‘Usually the players’ meetings were often held at Sanwar’s office where I never took part,’ he added.
Sanwar denied the allegation saying no such meeting was held at his office.
-With New Age input
