Asad Rauf alleged to have placed bets on IPL matches in which he officiated

Asad Rauf

It has been reported that the Pakistan international umpire Asad Rauf allegedly bet money on matches during the Indian Premier League (IPL), along with Gurunath Meiyappan in 2013. Ed Hawkins who was the author of the book Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy has written in his blog HawkEyeSpy that Rauf had allegedly betted on matches in which he himself was the umpire.

It says that the umpire Asad Rauf had also got some gifts from the bookies for giving the information regarding four matches in the sixth edition of IPL.

It states that Asad Rauf has been linked with the same bookies to which Gurunath Meiyappan was also linked with. It also says that in between 12th April 2013 and 17th May 2013, police intercepted 80 telephone conversations between Asad Rauf and Vindoo Dara Singh during their investigation into Meiyappan. Vindoo Dara Singh is an actor who, according to the report, has links to bookmakers in India, Dubai and Pakistan.

The report pages claim that Asad Rauf placed bets with Vindoo and he had also boasted of providing information to two bookies Pawan and Sanjay Jaipur, who were implicated in the spot-fixing scandal involving Rajasthan Royals.

The Police state that the phone Asad Rauf was using was revealed to be subscribed in the name of Sunil Kumar Naryanan, of Bangalore, who is “an acquaintance of bookie Sanjay Jaipur and provided to umpire Rauf by Sanjay Jaipur”. It is alleged that Rauf spoke to bookies Prem Taneja, Pawan and Sanjay Jaipur.

One of the recorded calls reveals that Rauf asked Vindoo for a Rs 50,000 (almost £500) wager and he also taped giving pitch information, saying it is “difficult” for betting odds for Rajasthan versus Chennai on May 12, the game which the IPL Probe Committee said warranted investigation for corruption.

On the next day, i.e. May 13, Rauf tells Vindoo to bet on both sides in the match between Mumbai and Hyderabad, telling him that he is the TV umpire. Later he boasts about getting the match result right and discusses a gold chain that he was promised as a reward for providing information.

On May 15, Rauf tells Vindoo “Aaj Zindagi Ki Har jeet Kar Lena”, which can be translated in regarding to the context as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to place bets. Vindoo then calls bookmaker Pawan Jaipurand said that the costs of all his gifts to Rauf “would recover in the match on that day”, which is a reference to that particular days match between Mumbai and Rajasthan in which Rauf is umpiring. Rauf says that that Kolkata’s run chase target of 171 against Pune that day is “too stiff”.

The interception seems to end on 16th May 2013 when Vindoo tells Rauf to destroy his SIM card.

Asad Rauf did maintain his innocence and claimed that he hasn’t done anything wrong.

“None of this is true,” he said, speaking on the matter. “If the police record the conversations of angels then they will also hear some bad words. I have lots of friends and I can’t be held accountable for what they do in their private life. Every second person gambles in this part of the world.

“I have never compromised my job as an umpire by doing any cheating. Everyone will tell you I’m honest in my career. I did nothing wrong during that tournament and Vindoo will tell you the same. I didn’t place any bets and I didn’t tell him anything of interest about matches.”