Dhaka Gladiators cricketer Mosharraf Hossain, one of the nine individuals charged in the report submitted by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit into alleged match-fixing related activities during the Bangladesh Premier League, has denied involvement in corrupt acts.
Left-arm spinner Mosharraf, who returned to the country from the UK last night, arranged a press meet at the City Club ground on Tuesday informing reporters of his decision to take the course of law.
Mosharraf is all set to lose the opportunity of playing the forthcoming Dhaka Premier League and will follow in the footsteps of his Gladiators teammate Mahbubul Alam, who was also accused in the match-fixing report.
‘I was accused on charges of match-fixing in the game between Dhaka Gladiators and Chittagong Kings [February 2] despite doing well individually as I had picked up 2-17 [ in 3 overs],’ said Mosharraf.
‘It seems that I am a victim of the situation and I have decided to take the path of law to prove my innocence and I am confident about it,’ added Mosharraf.
‘I am certainly disappointed with my career at the moment considering the way I had performed during the last one year. It seemed that my form was really picking up.
‘I got more than 100 wickets and was among the first three bowlers in the NCL [National Cricket League], BCL [Bangladesh Cricket League], DPL [Dhaka Premier League] and BPL [Bangladesh Premier League],’ he said.
‘I had developed my fitness level and the trainer [Stuart Karppinen] and coach [Shane Jurgensen] were happy with it while both Mushfiqur [Rahim] and Mahmudullah encouraged me and asked me to continue persisting with my hard work as they felt that my bowling has improved,’ he added.
‘So naturally at this point of time news of this magnitude is both disappointing and shocking. Usually the spinners start to develop after acquiring experience and it generally happens when they reach their 30s.
‘So I felt that I will be able to play in the national team. However, I am not totally disappointed because if I can prove my innocence there is always a chance [of coming back],’ he said.
After several months of investigation, the ACSU named nine individuals in its report including former national skipper Mohammad Ashraful, who confessed his involvement in illicit acts.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has nearly completed the formation of a 10-member panel for the Tribunal set to deal with the case and the accused have been given 14 days to plead guilty or defend themselves.
Mosharraf challenged the ACSU who had predominantly completed their findings on the basis of mobile tracking and information gathered from different sources.
‘I am hundred percent confident that I had not spoken to anyone regarding any deal of match-fixing so there cannot be any question of obtaining any recorded telephone conversations of mine in this regard,’ said Mosharraf.
‘If anyone wants to do fixing then he needs to bowl at least three-four bad deliveries in an over, including one full toss and one short-length ball. I am not such a fool that I would do fixing and also bowl well at the same time,’ added Mosharraf.
The seasoned left-arm spinner, who once had spurned national interest to join renegade Indian Cricket League, was always considered a valuable asset in the domestic competitions and said he did not talk with Ashraful later on regarding the fixing claims.
Mosharraf was banned for 10 years by the BCB for his ICL involvement before it was lifted as he severed his tie with the unofficial Twenty20 competition, a tournament that was also alleged to be a match-fixing hub.
‘I did not speak to Ashraful afterwards but like you, even I have the same question why my name was linked,’ said Mosharraf.
‘Yes, it occurred to me that something fishy was going on but I have no idea about them [accused] and who were behind it,’ he added.
-With New Age input
