I knew that I would be punished, says Mohammad Ashraful

Former Bangladesh international Mohammad Ashraful

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful who was banned for 8 years has stated that he is having no regreats about his confession in fixing matches.

"I don't have any regret confessing what I did," Ashraful told ESPNcricinfo.

"I knew that I would be punished from the moment I confessed. The only thing that could have happened was probably a lesser punishment. Maybe they could have cut down a year or two. Or they could have given me a chance to play domestic cricket. Otherwise it becomes hard to survive without playing cricket,” added Ashraful on the ban.

"I just wanted to come out clean the next time I play cricket. I didn't think about whether they [the ACSU] did a good or a bad job. I just wanted to come out with it."

"I am positive that I can come back to cricket after five years. I have already served one year," Ashraful said, referring to the fact that the period of the ban begins from last year. "I will be appealing after I receive the full judgment, having consulted my legal representatives."

The 29-year-old Ashraful confessed his role in fixing T20 matches in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2013.

The right-hander was part of the Bangladesh side that went past the first round of the 2007 World Cup at the expense of India. His last Bangladesh cap was against Zimbabwe in May 2013.