Mohammad Ashraful's ban cut down to 5 years

Mohammad Ashraful

Mohammad Ashraful’s ban which was for eight years has been reduced to 5 by the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s disciplinary panel chief Justice Mohammad Abdur Rashid, reports ESPNcricinfo. The batsman was handed the ban in June after being found guilty of corruption during the Bangladesh Premier League in 2013. The 30-year-old appealed for a ban reduction in July that was dated from August 13, 2013.

In addition to that, the right hander also gets a further two years of his ban suspended subject to his participation in a BCB or ICC anti-corruption education and training programme.

Ashraful’s ban could get reduced further

According to a BCB release said, he will be eligible to return to cricket "upon production of a certificate of good conduct from ICC".

"I had wanted a reduction in the ban similar to what has been given to me, when I had appealed. I'm very happy, now I can play [sooner]. I should have been punished, yes, but I think this is good for me," Ashraful was quoted as saying after the announcement.

Sri Lanka’s Kaushal Lokuarachchi was the other cricketer to have benefitted as his 18 month ban has been trimmed to 12. The leg-spinner is facing a penalty for failing to report an approach from the bookies.

Bans for team officials

Also, Shihab Jishan Chowdhury, one of the owners of BPL side Dhaka Gladiators, failed to get his 10-year ban reduced but the imposed fine of BDT 2 million (US$ 25,000 approx) was dismissed.

Even though, everyone punished got favorable results in the announcement, Salim Chowdhury, the Gladiators’ chairman, despite being let free after the previous investigations was handed a 10-year-ban.

"The ICC and the BCB have received the determination and are pleased to note that Shihab Jishan Chowdury's 10-year ban has been upheld, while Salim Chowdhury has now also been found guilty and banned for 10 years.

"In respect of the other findings, the ICC and the BCB are in the process of carefully reviewing the determination, following which they will decide on their next steps, including whether or not to appeal any aspect(s) of the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," the two boards said in a joint statement.